• Network 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. Read more...

  NetSim Versions
  NetSim for CCNP NetSim for CCNA NetSim for CCENT

  NetSim Support

  NetSim FAQ

  Free Demo

  Downloads
• Practice Exams

  ExSim-Max practice exams are the best practice exams available in the industry, if we may say so ourselves. ExSim-Max is designed to simulate the complete exam experience, including topics covered, question types, question difficulty and time allowed, so you know what to expect. Read more...

  Marketplace practice exams are written by independent authors and made available to the public via the Boson Exam Publishing Marketplace. Read more...

  Cisco
  CCNP
  CCNA
  CCENT
  CCIE
  All Cisco
  
  VMware
  VCP
  VCP6-DCV

  CompTIA
  A+
  Network+
  Security+
  All CompTIA
  
  
  (ISC)²
  CISSP

  Microsoft
  MCSA
  MCSE
  All Microsoft
  
  
  
  EC-Council
  CEH

  • BICSI
  • Check Point
  • Cisco
  • Microsoft

  • All Products

  Practice Exam Support

  Practice Exam FAQ

  Free Demo

  Downloads
• IT Training
  ---

  Boson Training specializes in instructor-led IT training designed to help IT professionals build the skills and knowledge they need to administer networks and advance their careers. Read more...

  ---

  • Course List
  • Request Information
  • Training FAQ
  • Instructors
  • Bootcamp Guarantee
  • On-Site Training
  • Room Rental

  • All Cisco Training
  • ICND1 (CCENT) Training
  • ICND2 Training
  • CICD Training
  • CIVND Training
  • CCNA Bootcamp
  • CCNA Security Bootcamp
  • CCNP Bootcamp
  • ROUTE Training
  • SWITCH Training
  • TSHOOT Training
  • CCIE Written Training
  • CCNA Data Center Bootcamp
  •  
  • All Training

  • All CompTIA Training
  • Network+ Training
  • Security+ Training
  • All EC-Council Training
  • CEH Bootcamp
  • CHFI Training
  • All (ISC)² Training
  • CISSP Training
  • All Microsoft Training
• Courseware
  

  ---

  Boson's courseware contains the information you need to know to pass Cisco’s ICND and CCNA exams. When combined with Boson’s NetSim network simulator and ExSim-Max practice exams, the courseware provides complete Cisco training, practice and preparation for the related Cisco certification. Read more...

  ---

  • Courseware for Intro to Basic Networking
  • Courseware for ICND1
  • Courseware for ICND2
  • Courseware for CCNA
  • Courseware for ROUTE
  • Courseware for SWITCH
  • Courseware for TSHOOT
  • Courseware Kits
  • Courseware FAQ
  • Activation Procedures
  • Lab Pack Activation Procedures
  • Samples
• Practice Labs
  

  ---

  Online Practice Labs provide access to real computer equipment networked together and conveniently accessible over the internet. Practice Labs include multiple pieces of equipment that you can configure and instructions that will guide you as you learn the concepts and technologies. Read more...

  ---

  • All Practice Labs
  • Practice Labs FAQ
• Certifications

  Certifications

  Cisco

  • CCENT
  • CCDA
  • CCNA
  • CCNP
  • All Cisco

  Microsoft

  • MCITP
  • MCTS
  • MCSA
  • MCSE
  • All Microsoft

  CompTIA

  • A+
  • CASP
  • Network+
  • Security+
  • All CompTIA

  Other

  • BICSI
  • Check Point
  • EC-Council
  • ISC2
  • More...
• Support

  Support

  • NetSim FAQ
  • Practice Exam FAQ
  • Training FAQ
  • Courseware FAQ
  • Practice Labs FAQ
  • Author FAQ
  • Downloads
  • Free Utilities
  • ExSim-Max Guarantee
  • Bootcamp Guarantee
  • Return Policy

  Company Info

  • About Us
  • Boson Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Payment Options
  • Privacy Policy
• B2B

  Organizational Sales

  • About Organizational Sales
  • Employee Training
  • Government Employees
  • Military Personnel
  • Student Training
  • Resellers
• Marketplace

  • Cisco
  • Microsoft
  • CompTIA
  • BICSI
  • Check Point
  • EC-Council
  • ISC2
  • All Products

  Search Products

  
  

  The Boson Marketplace is your online shopping destination for practice exams and IT training products. In addition to Boson's own products, you can find practice exams written by independent authors which are published by Boson Exam Publishing and delivered by the Boson Exam Environment software engine. More...

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 ACLs (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
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
System Message Logging
StackWise
STP (Spanning Tree Protocol)
STP Configuration
Straight-through Cables
Telnet
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer 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)

*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.

**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.