Creating a Physical Wired Network in Cisco Packet Tracer - My Experience | Israh Binoj

In this article, I am going to explain how I created a physical wired network in Cisco Packet Tracer and the difficulties I faced during the process.

1. Downloading Cisco Packet Tracer

The first step was to download Cisco Packet Tracer from the link provided by Udemy.
After the download completed, I installed it just like any other regular application.

2. Creating a Cisco Account

Before using Packet Tracer, I needed a Cisco account.
I created the account, verified my email, and saved my login credentials for future use.

3. Logging Into Cisco Networking Academy

After launching Packet Tracer for the first time, the application asked me to log in.
I signed in through Skills For All by Cisco, which provides access for three months.
Once I logged in successfully, Packet Tracer opened and I was ready to begin my project.

4. Creating a Basic Physical Wired Network

The first task I attempted was to create a simple wired physical network.
My network consisted of:

One PC

One Switch

One Copper Straight-Through cable

This is the basic structure of most small networks.

Steps I followed:

Step 1: Adding a PC

I selected a PC from the End Devices section and dragged it onto the workspace.

Step 2: Adding a Switch

Then I selected a 2960 series switch from the Switches category and placed it on the workspace.

Step 3: Connecting the Devices

To connect the PC and the switch:

1. I clicked on the Connections (lightning bolt icon).

2. I chose the Copper Straight-Through cable.

3. I clicked on the PC and selected FastEthernet0.

4. Then I clicked on the switch and selected FastEthernet0/1.

The connection line turned green, which indicated that the cable was working and the link was active.

5. Difficulties I Faced

While creating the network, I faced a few difficulties:

At first, I was confused between the Logical and Physical workspace views. I assumed that choosing the Physical view was necessary to create a wired network, but I later learned that all wired networks are created in the Logical view.

I had trouble finding the correct cable type because there are many options, such as cross-over, console, and fiber cables.

The link did not turn green immediately, which made me think the cable was not connected properly. It took a moment for the device to power on.

This simple network was my first step in understanding how devices communicate in a wired environment.