Introduction.

I'm using GNS3 since starting my studies at Cisco Network Academy in September 2011. (Please visit GNS3 website) It is a great tool able to emulate wide range of network devices and hosts running different OSs.

Cisco has it's own network simulator called Packet Tracer available for Cisco Network Academy students.

The main difference between them is that GNS3 in fact uses images of real operating systems to emulate devices while Packet Tracer is a simulator, thus it has limited set of supported features.

I found Packet Tracer ver 5.3.3 sufficient for studying for CCNA as unlike to GNS3 it is capable to simulate Cisco Switches, but this is it. When it comes to exercises with routers,  Frame-Relay and ATM - GNS3 is a tool! On top of it GNS3 is not limited to Cisco devices. Junos, Linux/Unix, WinXP are examples of operating systems it is compatible with.

In order to use GNS3 you have to supply Cisco IOS or any other OS for devices configured. Use of illegal copies violates Copyrights. Do not ask anybody to provide you this stuff! 

Be prepared  to spend some time learning all the functions and features of GNS3 - trust me, it is lots of fun! It will give you experience very close to one with real equipment.

One more thing. If person is interested in just passing certification test then it is not for you. Remember - memorizing answers for test doesn't make you employable, it also diminishes value of those certificates earned by hard work.

Wish all of you who wants to learn a happy journey with GNS3!

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Check this great video from "GNS3 Talk" out:

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