Packet Tracer is official Cisco software. Make sure you are allowed to use it under your Cisco Networking Academy account terms.
A core appeal of Packet Tracer is its low barrier to entry: it runs on standard Windows desktops and laptops, requires modest system resources compared with full virtualization solutions, and exposes learners to practical configuration tasks using command-line interfaces for routers and switches. These simulated devices support routing protocols such as RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP; VLANs and trunking; basic wireless and IoT device models; and services such as DHCP and NAT. The drag-and-drop workspace, real-time and simulation modes, and packet-tracing visualization are especially useful for visual learners who benefit from observing how packets traverse a network and how protocol events unfold.
is a legacy version of the powerful network simulation software developed by Cisco Systems, specifically designed for students and educators in the Cisco Networking Academy . Released around 2013, it was a pivotal update that introduced support for the CCNA 5.0 curriculum and several major hardware additions.
