Cisco Packet Tracer Provides a Multiuser VoIP Lab at No Hardware Costs

VoIP has become a very important part of the company's network infrastructure, and the need for knowledgeable network engineers with VoIP experience continues to grow. Because of the need for trained engineers, Cisco has added CCNA Sound to their certification program. Cisco has also added two extraordinary features to their Packet Tracer network simulator application which when combined gives instructors the ability to create a multi-user VoIP class lab environment that does not require additional hardware outside the network simulator application. Both of these features are the ability to support multiuser and VoIP Labs. Other simulator programs such as Boson and GNS3 only support one of these features internally, but not both. Boson provides VoIP support including VoIP devices such as the IP 7940 phone but does not have multi-user support. GNS3 has multi-user support and also supports VoIP on routers and Call Manager Express (CME) but does not have an IP device so it requires you to buy an IP phone such as the Cisco 7940 which you can find on eBay for around $ 75. GNS3 also doesn't have configurable switching support. This in my opinion gives Cisco Tracer Packet a clear advantage over competition. The key to providing a VoIP class lab environment is the multiuser capability of Packet Tracer. Allowing multiple computers running Cisco Packet Tracer to connect to a simulated WAN environment using a Local Area Network (LAN) and port gives students the ability to build their own local laboratory and sulfur analyzer indonesia connect the laboratory to a simulated WAN as if they were in a real-world environment , and with the help of an inexpensive headset that can actually make phone calls to other students through a simulated WAN. The simulated WAN environment will be created using Packet Tracer on the instructor's computer and can also provide a simulated Internet with a WEB and Mail server so students can access and send emails as if they were connected to the actual Internet. While Cisco's Packet Tracer does not support all of the Cisco Call Manager features, Packet Tracer will support enough to demonstrate the VLAN capabilities of a Cisco 7940 IP phone that allows students to create separate Voice and Data VLANs. This will also allow students to learn to configure telephone services and call friends.