Visual Network Simulator To Teach Basic Networking?

unteer writes "I am a US Peace Corps volunteer currently teaching a computer technician course at a technical college in Kenya. My students have all completed the Kenyan equivalent of high school and have been accepted into a program where they give a year of nation-building non-military service in return for a technical education. My students' course load includes an introduction to computer networking, and this is where my problem lies. Do any of you know of a visual network simulator that can create an interactive network map that allows me, the instructor, to manipulate various components of a network, including the physical media, routing configuration, and which applications are being used to submit data? An example would be to have a visual of the differences between mail traffic and web traffic, and be able to show how the configuration of a wireless network might be different from a wired network. I know this may seem silly, but visuals of all this are critical to getting ideas across. It doesn't even have to be technically accurate, but rather just pictorially accurate, possibly just labeling the various components correctly. Also, it would be highly preferable if it ran on Linux, as I teach using FOSS only."

Comments

You have a problem

[mysidia]

Also, it would be highly preferable if it ran on Linux, as I teach using FOSS only."

You are sacrificing your effectiveness as a teacher, and potentially failing to help your students learn, in the name of supporting FOSS?

Look.. I like FOSS, when available and when the most suited to the task, it's great.

I believe in the classroom, you should be using the most effective instructional tools available, not ones whose licensing model you personally prefer

Of course if the Non-FOSS options' license model is so restrictive, a restriction will prevent you using it in the classroomas an instructional tool (highly doubtful), then that could be a reason to reject it.

But based on your requirements, all the decent simulation options other than you having to write some code, or put together images/mock-ups manually, are not only non-FOSS, but also not free of cost.

Perhaps you should just embrace the 'free' option, and draw up your own sketches and diagrams?

If you don't like closed solutions, that's (more or less) what you are left with. Which is not horrible, but I assume you would not have asked the question if it was the best for your students.

Re:You have a problem

[Luke has no name]

I agree he might have to stick with a pencil and paper, but the question is well worth asking. GNS3 is free, but I thought it required non-free components to be useful (aka Cisco IOS isos or something).

He might require FOSS not just for philosophical reasons, but because he's a VOLUNTEER in KENYA. I doubt the budget is in the triple digits.

WE have a problem

[Bob Esponja]

Sorry, but if we need proprietary tech to have access to knowledge, he doesn't. WE HAVE THE PROBLEM, specially in educational environment like this.

Re:WE have a problem

[serviscope_minor]

Seriously? What the fuck are you talking about? Pens are proprietary?

Firstly, pretty much any pen you can buy will work with any paper you can buy. There is no vendor lockin. You can change pens HALF WAY THROUGH A WORD and it will have no effect. Secondly. Refillable pens (eg retractable pencils and fountain pens) will accept refills from any manufacturer. That's even less proprietary! You can even refill them yourself! I whiled away some happy hours refilling cheap fountain pen cartridges with bleach to make erasers when I was in school. You can also make your own ink if you really wish and use that. It is not too hard. You can also make your own pens, too. It is also not very hard. And you can make your own paper.

The technology for all these things is well understood and widely, openly known, and far too old to be covered by patents[*]. You can be easily go into business to make them for yourself. Of course, that does not mean it is trivial, but that is irrelevant.

Just because you're not personally able or inclined to does not make it proprietary.

[*]Maybe some fancy new pens are patented, but the kind of biros I usually use seem indistinguishable from the ones I was using 25 years ago.

Re:Cisco Packet Tracer

[speedwaystar]

...written by my Comp-Sci lecturer the incomparable Mr Chris McDonald!

Re:Cisco Packet Tracer

[jimboindeutchland]

I also had Chris McDonald as a lecturer when I was at UWA several years ago and he was by far the best lecturer that I had in my time there. Just about everyone that took one of his courses would comment on how interesting and relevant his classes were. I'm not at all surprised speedwaystar is making the same comment.

Although, it is a bit of a brown noser comment...