Cisco CCNA Network Simulator (CCNA Self-Study, 640-801)

asked by goonball on November 15, 2006 9:12 PM

Master hands-on CCNA skills with a network simulator that lets you build your own network, with up to 200 devices

Gain hands-on experience for all CCNA exam topicsSelect from 45 different router and switch modelsLearn with integrated content from the number-One selling CCNA Certification Library written by Wendell Odom

Cisco CCNA Network Simulator is a boxed software product derived from the previously self-published Boson NetSim from Boson Software. It provides users with a means to develop hands-on skills at the CCNA level without the investment in expensive hardware. The software, which includes the Boson Router Simulator, was designed to give users the skills needed to pass the new CCNA 800 series exams (640-801, 640-811, and 640-821). The combination of Cisco IOS and Catalyst simulated command line interface (CLI) establishes a foundation of knowledge that is integral to CCNA success, both in taking the CCNA exams and in one's daily job as a CCNA professional. The title includes a drag-and-drop Network Designer that supports up to 200 devices using 45 different device models, including 40 different router models and 2 Catalyst switch models. Users can have up to 200 active Telnet sessions configuring devices inside the simulator. This unique feature allows users to create their own lab topologies, freeing them for the first time from the configurations locked in place by the software vendor. Currently no other network simulation package offers this much versatility and support.

Cisco CCNA Network Simulator also includes a comprehensive lab menu that contains more than 100 structured labs for users to run. More than 20 advanced-level labs from Wendell Odom's CCNA texts allow users to perform complex tasks on networks that combine all the various CCNA technologies.

Boson Software, Inc. is a software company specializing in products for test preparation and the development of hands-on skills. Boson is a Cisco Learning Partner, and offers practice tests on every major certification in the IT industry, as well many outside the IT market. Boson Software is headquartered in Tampa, FL.

60220041587201313

Buy this book

[report to moderator]

Reviews

I bought the CCNA Simulator. I ran into a lot of frustrating problems. I'm taking the CCNP track at St. Petersburg College. The CCNA Simulator didn't have all the features so I bought the CCNP simulator. I tried the Boson OSPF lab straight out of the simulator, punching in the commands they tell me, and it doesn't reflect the same output. Go figure! Lots of typos... and forget about Frame-relay. When you follow a Boson lab like OSPF step-by-step and you don't get the same answers, that's pretty bad, especially when you spend that much money for it.

I told Boson about it. they said send all the configs and information, never heard back. I'd like to know if there is any good cisco router simulation software out there that actually works. I'm not saying that the CCNP simulator doesn't work at all. But for helping you study and pass a test, you'll spend more time trying to troubleshoot why it's not working and end up spinning your wheels only to find out it's the program.

Completely dissapointed with Boson. Someone please show me a simulator that works all the way around... or is that just not possible?

reviewed by advisor on November 25, 2006 9:42 PM

[report to moderator]

It is a good tool for exam practice, but doesn't seem too useful for practical network mapping, simulation, or planning. There's just too much that's incomplete. Commands are missing including some advanced routing protocol support, there's no support for larger switches, and some of the diagnostics are pretty kludgy. There is a CCNP version of the software that supposedly addresses these, but I haven't tried it. It may seem fairly expensive, but it is still a lot cheaper than buying an assortment of cisco gear to run through the exercises.

reviewed by nutshell on November 27, 2006 4:59 PM

[report to moderator]

I read the other reviews on Amazon before purchasing this product. I saw some were good and some were bad. I thought, well, people have different opinions and I may like it. No. There are too many mistakes. Others have commented on VLAN issues with the 2950's. I had the same problem. Any more than 3 vlans and it just wouldn't work. It was very frustrating in that I wasted ALOT of time thinking it my configs at first. Then there is some kind of bug with pings. When you ping from one specific PC to another across your virtual network the entire application shuts down. This will consistently happen so you must remember which PC's you can and can't ping to and from safely and make sure to save everything before every ping. You will put in configurations then 5 minutes later do a "sh run" and they will mysteriously be gone. Or take a network statement out from under OSPF but it just will NOT remove it. Lastly there is the user friendly-ness. I rate this as a zero. It is the most cumbersome application I have ever used. It would have helped had I been able to open the user guide but that did nothing when I clicked on it. I lost many a network because I didn't save the topologies and configs correctly. So I called Boson for help. You have to leave your name and number and they will call back within 48 hours. That was 2 weeks ago. I have not heard from them.

reviewed by maxmill on November 29, 2006 1:40 PM

[report to moderator]

I sent the company some feedback last week and have heard nothing from them. Product does not apply ACL's properly to interfaces and has problems recording matches to outbound ACL's. Also there are problems with alternate vlans on 2950 switches. Numerous bugs running verion 5.07 with latest patch. Was a very disappointing purchase.

Dennis Byford, CCNP

reviewed by alec on November 29, 2006 4:40 PM

[report to moderator]

add a new book!