Cisco Simulations

[GroundZero3]

Boson sucks big time, I know I made a post about cisco emulation before. A coworker pointed me to this

GNS3 | Home

NOTE: You will need to provide your own Cisco IOS to use this software!


Make sure you have a pretty beefy machine too to handle multiple routers

[chrischringle]

I want to add to this post in order to emphasize, "BOSON SUCKS", don't waste your money.
Learn from my mistake, don't pay $500 dollars for the CCNP NetSim product.
I paid the $500 dollars hoping that I could study and practice for the CCNP Routing exam without purchasing real hardware.
Yeah, I know, I've heard it already, for $500 dollars I could probably have purchased most of the equipment to setup a fully functional, real lab.
But, my rationalization was that I would have a close enough approximation of a Cisco Lab on my notebook computer that I could take with me wherever I traveled.

Here are just a few problems I had right out of the gate:

1) Network models that were created with links between devices mysteriously re-routed the links to different devices. No kidding, I had links connecting device A to device B randomly move to connect device A to device E. No response from tech support on this one.

2) Links that were configured on the network maps disappeared as a configurable interface.
When adding devices to a network map, and connecting the devices to each other, there are configuration options. So, I add the interfaces connecting two devices and go back to make a configuration change and the interface is no longer accessible. The network map still showed the link as being connected between two devices but it had disappeared as a configurable link.

One more and I'll stop...

3) EIGRP lab showed all links as having the same metric, even though there were different interface types, ie; serial, fast-ethernet, etc. It appeared that all interfaces, regardless of type of interface, were given a standard EIGRP metric, which in my case turned out to be the metric for a Fast-Ethernet link, 28160 I believe.

OK, so I'm totally stupid for purchasing the product with out some sort of money-back guarantee.
Caveat Emptor. Suffice it to say I won't be purchasing any future products from Boson.

I found GNS/Dynamips/Dynagen after I had already blown my wad. It actually works and it's free.
GNS3 |.

[GroundZero3]

Yeah Boson is total crap plus half the commands dont even work!

Been using GNS3 to study for my CCNP

[huntert]

i went to the gn3 website it said that you need to get your own ios software what kind of ios software do i need to study for ccna?

[GroundZero3]

You need to have access to Cisco IOS images (something that is not free)


Cisco IOS Software - Products & Services - Cisco Systems

[huntert]

thanks

[GroundZero3]

FYI GNS3 0.7 has been released for OSX. Seems they have cleaned up the interface a lot which is really nice. Haven't had a chance to really play with it yet but im hoping to soon!