Brian Scheibe recently shared his thoughts on why it’s useful to be able create your own lab packs with the Lab Compiler that is included in Boson’s NetSim network simulator software. Lab packs can include topology files (*.top), lab files (*.xps), loading and configuration files (*.nwc) and grading configuration file (*.nwc). If you have created your own lab pack, and wish to import them into NetSim simply click Lab > Import Lab Pack in the Menu Bar. Sometimes, however you don’t have to include the individual topology or loading configuration files in a lab pack. You can still use them in NetSim, which is the good news.
NetSim allows you to open individual topology files. You can then apply the loading configuration files for the topology devices.
Click the NetMap tab and click NetMap on your Menu Bar. Then click Open Topology. Select a *.top file in the dialog box and click Open. This will allow you to modify the NetMap window’s topology. The topology will not apply to devices until you click on Apply Selected Topology in the NetMap menu. You can also click Open and Apply Select Topology. The topology file will be automatically applied to the NetMap devices if you select it in the dialog box.
After the topology has been loaded, you don’t need to manually configure the devices if you have created loading configuration files. Instead, you can click Console > Load Multi Device Config to apply the configuration files. *.nwc is the supported file extension. This option will not work if you haven’t previously loaded a topology or lab.
Once your topology is loaded, you can start practicing different configurations using the devices in your topology.
Download a NetSim network simulator demo.
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