The Cisco Network Simulator, Router Simulator & Switch
Simulator
The Boson NetSim Network Simulator is an
application that simulates Cisco Systems' networking hardware and
software and is designed to aid the user in learning the Cisco IOS
command structure.

NetSim utilizes Boson's proprietary Network
Simulator, Router Simulator® and EROUTER® software technologies, along
with the Boson Virtual Packet Technology® engine, to create individual
packets. These packets are routed and switched through the simulated
network, allowing NetSim to build an appropriate virtual routing table
and simulate true networking. Other simulation products on the market do
not support this level of functionality.
Boson offers a NetSim
CCENT
Network Simulator,
CCNA
Network Simulator and
CCNP Network
Simulator. Each supports the technologies and skills you will
need for the respective certification.
Boson NetSim
provides more versatility and support than any other network simulation
software on the market. NetSim software also includes a comprehensive
lab menu that contains lessons and labs covering routing protocols,
Cisco devices, switching, topological design and much
more.
Advantages of Software-Based Network
Simulation
Boson NetSim is a versatile tool and valuable
asset, both in a classroom and for corporate use; it also provides a
self-paced learning environment.
For many
individuals, the availability of Cisco routers and switches is often
limited. The cost and fragility of equipment makes rack rentals
impractical at this level. Boson NetSim makes it possible to design and
configure a network with 42 different router models and 5 different
switch models* to choose from without having to pay a lot of money, or
worrying about transporting and damaging valuable
equipment.
NetSim's router, switch and station
simulation components contained within the software are the most
advanced in the industry. Within NetSim, simulation of routers, switches
and PCs is included in a completely customizable drag-and-drop
network-simulation package. Furthermore, Boson NetSim simulates both
switching bridge tables and routing protocol tables to allow you to go
OUTSIDE of the labs and create your own labs using the Boson Network
Designer.
Advanced Features Included With
Boson NetSim
- Supports 42 routers, 7
switches* and 3 other devices
- Simulates
network traffic with virtual packet technology
- Provides two different viewing styles: Telnet mode or Console mode
- Supports up to 200 devices on one Network Topology
- Allows instructors to create and include their own labs and
offer grading for them
- Allows you to create NetSim
simulated networks with the Boson Network
Designer
- Includes non-Cisco devices, such as TFTP
Server, TACACS+ and Packet Generator
- Enables users
to access specific labs by conducting keyword and curriculum
searches
*Although all devices
can be added to a custom topology, the commands needed to configure some
devices are restricted depending on the license version. For example,
3550 switches can be added to a CCENT or CCNA custom topology. However,
the commands needed to configure a 3550 switch are only supported in
NetSim for CCNP.
NetSim 11
Enhancements
- Added 7 new
ICND1 and ICND2 labs
- Added support for filtering all
show outputs with output modifiers
- Added support
for configuring the Native VLAN
- Added support for
Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE)
- Added
support for Named Standard access control lists
(ACLs)
- Added support for IPv6
ACLs
- Added support for Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP)
- Added support for System Message
Logging
- Added support for Secure Shell
(SSH)
*Enhancements dependent on NetSim
Version
NetSim 11 for ICND1
and ICND2 Labs
- Configuring a PPPoE
Client
- Configuring IPv6
ACLs
- Configuring Network Device
Management
- Configuring
SSH
| - Named Standard Access
Lists
- System Message
Logging
- VLAN
Leaking
|
See
a full list of
CCNP labs,
CCNA labs and
CCENT labs.
NetSim Network
Simulator Product Comparison
| NetSim
for CCENT
| NetSim
for CCNA
| NetSim for
CCNP
|
Price
| $99
| $179
| $349
|
Labs -
Total (CCENT/CCNA/CCNP)
| 98 (98/0/0)
|
171 (98/73/0)
|
316 (98/73/145)
|
Lab Grading Function |  | 
|  |
Device
Types | 53*
| 53*
| 53
|
Exams
Covered
| 1
| 3
| 6
|
AAA (Authentication, Authorization and
Accounting)
| |  |  |
ACL (Access
Control Lists)
|  |  |  |
ARP (Address
Resolution Protocol)
|  |  |  |
BGP** (Border
Gateway Protocol)
| |  |  |
BGP
Peering
| |  |  |
CDP (Cisco
Discovery Protocol)
|  |  |  |
CHAP (Challenge
Handshake Authentication Protocol)
| |  |  |
Crossover
Cables
|  |  |  |
Custom Queuing
and Compression
| | |  |
Debugging
|  |  |  |
DHCP (Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol)
|  |  |  |
DHCP
Binding
| | |  |
DHCP on
Switches
| | |  |
DHCP Relay
Agents
|  |  |  |
DNS (Domain Name
System)
|
|
|  |
DMVPN (Dynamic
Multipoint Virtual Private Network) Phase I, II &
III
| | |  |
DMVPN with
OSPF
| | |  |
DMVPN
Security
| | |  |
EIGRP (Enhanced
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol)
| |  |  |
EIGRP
Authentication and Debugging
| |  |  |
EIGRP
IPv6
| |  |  |
EIGRP Named
Mode
| |
|  |
EIGRP
Summarization
| | |  |
EIGRP Wildcard
Mask
| |  |  |
Enable Routing
on Distribution Switches
| | |  |
EtherChannel –
Layer 2
| |  |  |
EtherChannel –
Layer 3
| | |  |
EtherChannel –
PAgP and LACP
| | |  |
Frame
Relay
| |  |  |
GLBP (Gateway
Load Balancing Protocol)
| | |  |
HSRP (Hot
Standby Router Protocol)
| |  |  |
HSRP
Authentication
| | |  |
HSRP
Load Sharing
| | |  |
InterVLAN
Routing
|  |  |  |
IPSEC (Internet
Protocol Security)
| | |  |
IPv6 Access
Control Lists
| |  |  |
IPv6
Addressing
|  |  |  |
Legacy
DDR
| | |  |
Low Latency
Queuing
| | |  |
Multicasting
Configuration
| | |  |
Multipoint Frame
Relay
| |  |  |
Native
VLANs
| |  |  |
NAT (Network
Address Translation)
|  |  |  |
NetFlow
| | |  |
Network Baseline
Discovery
|  |  |  |
Numbered Access
Lists
|  |  |  |
NTP (Network
Time Protocol)
|  |  |  |
NTP
Authentication
|  |  |  |
NTP
Security
| | |  |
OSPF (Open
Shortest Path First)
| |  |  |
OSPF
(Multi-Area)
| |  |  |
OSPF (Single
Area)
| |  |  |
OSPF Route
Summarization
| | |  |
OSPF Stub and
Totally Stubby Areas
| | |  |
OSPFv3 Using
IPv6 Addresses
| |  |  |
PAP (Password
Authentication Protocol)
| |  |  |
Path
Control
| | |  |
Point-to-Multipoint Serial
| |  |  |
Point-to-Point
Serial
| |  |  |
Policy
Routing
| | |  |
PortFast
| | |  |
PPP
(Point-to-Point Protocol)
| |  |  |
PPPoE
(Point-to-Point over Ethernet)
| |  |  |
PVST (Per-VLAN
Spanning Tree)
| |  |  |
QoS
(Quality of Service)
| | |  |
Redistribution
with Route Filtering
| | |  |
RIP (Routing
Information Protocol)
|  |  |  |
RIPv2
|  |  |  |
RIPng for
IPv6
|  |  |  |
Route
Redistribution
| | |  |
Secure Shell
(SSH)
|  |  |  |
Site-to-Site VPN
using Preshared Keys
| | |  |
Slot-based
Devices with Ability to Change Modules
|  |  |  |
System Network
Management Protocol (SNMP)
| |  |  |
System Message
Logging
|  |  |  |
StackWise
| | |  |
STP (Spanning
Tree Protocol)
| |  |  |
STP
Configuration
| | |  |
Straight-through
Cables
|  |  |  |
Telnet
|  |  |  |
TFTP (Trivial
File Transport Protocol)
|  |  |  |
Troubleshooting
Access Lists
| |  |  |
Troubleshooting
Based on Gathered Symptoms
| |  |  |
Troubleshooting
DHCPv6
| | |  |
Troubleshooting
DMVPN
| | |  |
Troubleshooting
EIGRP Named Mode
| | |  |
Troubleshooting
Network Layer Problems
|  |  |  |
Troubleshooting
Path Control
| | |  |
Troubleshooting
Physical and Data Link Layer Problems
| | |  |
Troubleshooting
Problems at All Logical Layers
| |  |  |
Troubleshooting
Route Filters
| | |  |
Troubleshooting
Transport and Application Layer Problems
| |  |  |
Trunking
|  |  |  |
UplinkFast
| | |  |
VLAN (Virtual
Local Area Network) ACLs
| | |  |
VLANs
|  |  |  |
VLSM (Variable
Length Subnet Mask)
|  |  |  |
VRRP (Virtual
Router Redundancy Protocol)
| |  |  |
VRRP
authentication
| | |  |
VTP (VLAN
Trunking Protocol)
| |  |  |
**BGP
is limited to the lab included with NetSim at the CCNA level. The BGP
command set is not limited to a specific lab at the CCNP level.
See
a full list of
CCNP labs,
CCNA labs and
CCENT
labs.