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Ethical Hacking Discussions and Related Certifications => Wireless => Topic started by: WCNA on October 12, 2011, 10:32:50 AM



Title: Network Simulators
Post by: WCNA on October 12, 2011, 10:32:50 AM
I mentioned in another thread I'm reading "Deploying and Troubleshooting Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers" . It seems everyone wants job experience with Cisco (although I don't know why when UBNT has such disruptive pricing). I don't have a WLC to play with so I went searching for a network simulator and came across this:
http://networksims.com/

Anybody use them? Opinions? It's cheap enough for me to go ahead and get so I may do a review on it later but they cover a BUNCH of emulators and it seems like it would be a valuable resource for people taking exams.


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: hayabusa on October 12, 2011, 01:30:24 PM
Have never seen that site / vendor before.  IF you sign up, or buy, please let us know how it is.

Thanks.


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: WCNA on October 12, 2011, 06:18:02 PM
I got time to mess with it for a little while this afternoon and so far it's pretty awesome. I got the $58 bundle (one year) and it includes this:
  • Router, switch, PIX/ASA, Wireless, ASDM, VPN and SDM simulators.
  • Google book integration.
  • Cisco command/term/concept search.
  • CCNA.
  • CCNA ICND,CCNP SWITCH,CCNP ROUTE,CCNP TSHOOT.
  • CCNP: CCNP1 (Adv Routing - BCSI).
  • CCNP2 (Remote Access).
  • CCNP3 (BCMSN).
  • CCNP4 (Debug).
  • CCNP5 (ISCW).
  • CCNP6 (ONT).
  • CCNP Security SECURE (New!).
  • Wireless.
  • SNPA (PIX/ASA).
  • Security.
  • Host (Windows/UNIX).
  • Cisco Network Security 1.
  • Cisco Network Security 2.
  • Router Additional.
  • Switch Additional.
  • CCVP (Voice).
  • MPLS.
  • CCVP (Voice Gateway).
  • CCNA Wireless (with new WLC and ADU).
  • CCNA Security.
  • CCSP (SNRS).
  • CCNA Voice.
  • ASDM.
  • SDM (Alpha release).
  • Juniper JUNOS.
  • CCDA.
  • EEM.
  • Ethical Hacking (New!).
  • Check Point CCSA (New!).
  • A+ (New!).
  • CISSP (New!).
  • Security+ (New!)
  • Amazon AWS - EC2 elastic cloud and S3 data storage (New!).
  • CUCM Demo (New!)
  • Microsoft .NET.
  • Series of integrated lectures on security, wireless and switching.
  • Fun activities.
  • Full range of in-package and on-line tests.
  • 70,000 test questions.

AND a bunch of books. There were 6 or 7 just on CCNA.
It has you go through a series of challenges where you have to type in the correct commands on the different emulators to complete the task. This is mixed in with test questions and videos. For such a tiny price, it's really awesome. I haven't even got to the Ethical Hacking section yet I was so busy playing the Cisco WLC stuff.

There's a demo you can download on the site to try it out and some videos about the different demos http://networksims.com/emulators_demo2.html

It has different topologies you can use as well (different routers, switches, number of hosts, etc).
The only bad thing I can see so far is you can only use it on one computer.

I'll post more when I get a chance to really look over everything...it's got months worth of reading.


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: YuckTheFankees on October 12, 2011, 08:21:17 PM
It definitely looks like a sweet package. I've used http://www.howtonetwork.net/ before and it was decent. I didnt have all the equipment I wanted, so it definitely helped me with the CCNA. The company you are using looks legit. Good luck!


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: hell_razor on October 13, 2011, 01:06:26 PM
It looks like the premium package ($78) lists e-books, but you said you gets lots of books with $58 package.  Trying to figure out what benefit the extra $20 is other than a suite of tools (don't need them anyway).  Looks like a good deal and it is hard not to get $60-$80 value.


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: WCNA on October 13, 2011, 08:42:00 PM
Quote
re:"Trying to figure out what benefit the extra $20"

I was trying to figure that out myself. It looked like the toolset was the only difference. If anyone gets the full package please post whether the extra $20 is worth it. Maybe some special tools not usually seen?


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: hell_razor on October 14, 2011, 12:16:14 PM
I went ahead and got the $78 package because it indicated that updates would be provided for the first year, whereas the lesser packages required a $30/quarter subscription service for updates to the materials.  I missed that the first time through.  Now, whether or not the updates (or the toolset) is really worth $20, time will tell.  Thanks for pointing out the site, now I just need more time to look at it.


Title: Re: Network Simulators
Post by: WCNA on October 14, 2011, 09:11:12 PM
Be sure to let us know what the updates turn out to be and whether the tool set includes any interesting or not well known stuff. I've had a lot of fun with it so far...it's really helping me remember how to do all those Cisco commands again.