Don’t worry, we will show you all the steps to download and install the Cisco Packet Tracer software. Just keep reading…
How to download the latest version of Cisco Packet Tracer
Cisco Packet Tracer is free to download but you need to register for Netacad Networking Academy which is also free. Registering is helpful because you will also need to sign in with the same ID when you run the simulation tool. Let’s walk through the registration and download process here. This will let us download the Cisco Packet Tracer offline installer.
Download Cisco Packet Tracer
There will be times when you want to download the previous versions of Packet Tracer. The last two versions are available for download: Windows Desktop Version 7.2.1 English64 Bit Download32 Bit Download Linux Desktop Version 7.2.1 English64 Bit Download macOS Version 7.2.1 EnglishDownload Windows Desktop Version 7.1.1 English64 Bit Download32 Bit Download Linux Desktop Version 7.1.1 EnglishLinux 64 Bit Download
More about packet tracer
Cisco Packet Tracer is a powerful network simulation software from Cisco Systems Inc which can simulate/create a network without having a physical network. It has a drag and drop interface that is easy to use yet highly effective while configuring complex networks. Cisco Packet Tracer can also run as a hybrid network combining physical networks and the simulated networks. All this is achieved by using a drag and drop visual interface. This capability makes the software unique and highly useful across institutions and individuals worldwide who want to learn and practice their networking skills before touching the production networks. Cisco Packet Tracer is one of the better initiatives by Cisco Systems for learning, institutions, and students can both benefit from skills and career building.
The benefits of using Cisco Packet Tracer
A few benefits of using Cisco Packet Tracer simulator tool include the following:
Free for everyone, institutions, and individuals around the world especially allowing students to have hands-on skills on a Cisco network. Earlier, it was only free for Cisco Network Academy students.Practice complete Cisco Packet Tracer labs from the Networking Academy in their skills and career-building program for learning (CCENT, CCN, CCNP Security and CCNP Switch exams, in fact, any Cisco certification).Equally useful program for learning for institutions and individuals.Users can run simulations on all devices compatible with Cisco Packet Tracer including Windows, Linux and Android mobile device (Cisco Packet Tracer Mobile)You can run and practice Cisco IOS Operating System without having a physical router and network.Last but not least, it can also run on a mobile device!
Changelogs of Packet tracer recent versions
The main feature of Packet Tracer 7.3 is that it supports the latest CCNA 7 package. It is not compatible with the CCNA 6 package. If you are using CCNA 6, then you should stay with Packet Tracer 7.2.2. You can find the direct download links for both versions 7.3 and 7.2.2 below. Other changes in Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3 Packet Tracer 7.3 workspace improvements :
New workspace themesAligned workspace objectsAbility to deploy network devices to a specific rackAccessibility updateAbility to name a physical rack
Protocol and software improvements :
IP OSPF Point-to-Point on Ethernet interfaceIPv6 OSPF Point-to-Point on Ethernet interfaceDynamic ARP inspectionWLC GUI fixes and enhancementsDHCP snooping fixes and enhancementsSection output modifier for show commandsAccessibility, security, and usability enhancements and optimizations for all platformsUpgraded PTSA and PTMO supportVarious enhancements to existing protocols
New devices in Packet Tracer 7.3 :
Cisco 4331 Integrated Services RouterCisco Wireless Lan Controller 3504
Just like Cisco Packet Tracer 7.1.1, the version 7.2.2 is a maintenance release and does not contain any major updates. The complete build no. of this release is 7.2.2.0218. Only one major bug was fixed in this release. The bug in previous versions of Packet Tracer was that if the user had logged into Packet Tracer software, the user was required to log in again after every system restart. Apart from this, all the features of version 7.2 remain the same. Cisco has removed Packet Tracer 7.2 from their website and it is not available for download anymore. So you should download this latest version for future installations. Here were the major features of version 7.2 major release: Packet Tracer 7.2 workspace improvements:
New themesAlign workspace objectsAbility to deploy the device to a specific rackAccessibility updateAbility to name a rack
Protocol and software improvements :
PPPoE support802.1x (useful for a CCNP certification exam)Answer tree filterReal TCP serverReal WebSocketReal-time activity gradingAdditional IOS security featuresProtocol improvements
New devices in Packet Tracer 7.2
ASA 5506-X firewall (FirePOWER features not supported)Meraki security applianceMeraki server (for Meraki security appliance centralized configuration, emulating Cisco Meraki dashboard)Home router with advanced wireless capabilities (2.4G, 5G, beamforming, wireless bridge, …)
Getting started with Cisco Packet Tracer
Once you have downloaded the Cisco Packet Tracer, the installation process of the Cisco Packet Tracer is as simple as running the downloaded setup file and follow the instructions (usually pressing the Next button). After installation, if you have a browser open, you will be asked to close the browser with the following message: For Packet Tracer Skill-Based Assessment (PTSBA) to use this version of Packet Tracer, please close all web browsers or restart your computer. After that, you will be shown another notice that you are running Packet Tracer for the first time so your files will be saved in the default folder. And then you will get a login screen. You can either log in with your Cisco OneID and password or run the software as a guest. For running the software as a guest, press the “Guest Login” button at the bottom right side of the window. One caveat of guest login is that you will have to wait for a few seconds and then click on the “Confirm Guest” button to start using the software. And then you can start using the software as per your choice.
How to use Packet Tracer?
There are a lot of tutorials on Youtube and the Internet which can guide you through the network learning process using the Cisco Packet Tracer. But for me, the best tutorial is from Cisco NetAcad. You can go to netacad.com and sign-in with your Cisco OneID. Once signed in, you can click on any of the links below to start the guided tour of Packet Tracer and how to use it for network simulation.
Introduction to Packet TracerIntroduction to IoTIT EssentialsNetworking EssentialsCCNA Routing and SwitchingCybersecurity EssentialsCCNA Cybersecurity OperationsCCNA SecurityIoT Fundamentals: Connecting ThingsMobility Fundamentals
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