Análisis de herramientas de software para la simulación y emulación de redes de computadores para aprendizaje en entornos de laboratorio

Abstract

With the virtual education that is currently being experienced due to the effects generated by the Covid19 virus and in view of the fact that the world population had to go into confinement to preserve health, the theoretical-practical disciplines have seen the need to use tools that allow the simulation of the themes previously seen in class laboratories. Thus, in the case of the computer networks chair, network simulators or emulators can be used, which can be installed on personal computers and allow students to carry out experimental tests from home. Considering the aforementioned, the present research work consists of developing a comparison of the Cisco Packet Tracer simulator and the GNS-3 emulator, where its operation and performance is evaluated when implementing the HSRP configuration topology in them. The project consists of five phases that go from the search for information, comparison and selection of the tools, comparison and selection of the topology, start-up of the topology in the simulator and emulator, and the evaluation of the tools based on different parameters. As a first point, it begins with the collection of information about the Packet Tracer, Network Simulator – NS3, OMNeT ++, OPNET, GNS-3, Boson NetSim, EVE-NG and Mininet tools. Then, evaluation parameters are defined to compare each of them and choose a tool from the side of the simulators and one from the side of the emulators. In the same way, the topology is evaluated and selected, for which 4 laboratory practice guides that are part of the instruction of the subjects of Switching Technologies I and Switching Technologies II and other network management practices were considered. that are commonly taught in the classroom, and that are valid for study topics. At this point, with the tools and topologies defined, we proceed to install the tools in the equipment and configure the topology, using the same addressing, protocols and simulator equipment in both tools. Finally, the tools are evaluated regarding their installation difficulty, usability, interaction with the user, protocol support, supported equipment, connectivity between equipment and the consumption of computer resources; and in such a way to determine which of the two tools is the best option to teach classes virtually. The results obtained indicate that during the execution of the topology in the tools, no great differences are observed in the connection, addressing, packet sending, protocol support or the variety of equipment they have. The differences are reflected in the use, the amount of resources consumed by the computer and the licensing, on the one hand, Packet Tracer consumes approximately 20% of the CPU and 200 MB of RAM of the computer, while GNS-3 consumes approximately 90% of the CPU and 400 MB of RAM per device, it is also important to mention that the latter is multiplatform, allowing you to work with MikroTik, for example.