AIR UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

LAB# 02

Lab Title: Introduction to CISCO Packet Tracer (Hub & Switch)

Student Name: Abdur-Rehman Reg. No: 210312

Objective: The purpose of this lab is to become familiar with building topologies in
Packet Tracer.

Submitted to: Mam Ayesha Sadiq

LAB ASSESSMENT:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
Ability to Conduct
Experiment
Ability to assimilate the
results
Effective use of lab
equipment and follows
the lab safety rules

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

LAB REPORT ASSESSMENT:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Data presentation

Experimental results

Conclusion

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Date: Signature:
 Lab Tasks
Post Lab Task 1:
Write the advantages and disadvantages of different network topologies (Mesh,
Star, Bus and ring)?
1. Mesh
Advantages
o Reliability: Mesh topology provides high
reliability because if one connection fails,
data can still be transmitted through other
connections.
o Scalability: Mesh topology can be easily
scaled up by adding more nodes to the
network.
o Security: Mesh topology provides a high
level of security because data is transmitted
through multiple paths, making it difficult
for intruders to intercept or hack into the
network.
2. Star
Advantages
o Easy to set up and manage: Star topology
is easy to set up and manage because the
central hub or switch can be used to
manage the entire network.
o High performance: Star topology provides
high performance because each node has
its own dedicated connection to the central
hub or switch, reducing network
congestion.
o Scalability: Star topology can be easily
scaled up by adding more nodes to the
network.
Disadvantages
o Cost: Mesh topology can be expensive to
set up and maintain due to the large
number of connections required.
o Complexity: Mesh topology is complex
and requires a high level of technical
knowledge to set up and maintain.
o Bandwidth consumption: Mesh topology
consumes a lot of bandwidth because data
is transmitted through multiple paths,
leading to congestion and slower network
speeds.
Disadvantages
o Single point of failure: Star topology has
a single point of failure, which is the
central hub or switch. If the central hub or
switch fails, the entire network will be
affected.
o Limited bandwidth: Star topology has
limited bandwidth because all nodes must
share the same connection to the central
hub or switch.
o Cost of the central hub or switch: Star
topology requires a central hub or switch,
which can be expensive, especially for
larger networks.
 3. Bus
Advantages
o Easy to set up and manage: Bus topology is
easy to set up and manage because it
requires less cabling than other topologies
such as mesh or ring topology.
o Cost-effective: Bus topology is cost-
effective because it requires less cabling
and hardware than other topologies.
o High performance: Bus topology provides
high performance because data is
transmitted quickly along the backbone.
4. Ring
Advantages
o High performance: Ring topology provides
high performance because data is
transmitted quickly along the ring.
o Scalability: Ring topology can be easily
scaled up by adding more nodes to the
network.
o Cost-effective: Ring topology is cost-
effective because it requires less cabling
and hardware than other topologies.
Disadvantages
o Single point of failure: Bus topology has
a single point of failure, which is the
backbone cable. If the backbone cable
fails, the entire network will be affected.
o Limited bandwidth: Bus topology has
limited bandwidth because all nodes must
share the same connection to the
backbone cable.
o Limited distance: Bus topology has a
limited distance because the maximum
distance between the nodes and the
backbone cable is limited by the length of
the cabling used.
Disadvantages
o Single point of failure: Ring topology has
a single point of failure, which is the
cable connecting the two ends of the ring.
If the cable fails, the entire network will
be affected.
o Limited distance: Ring topology has a
limited distance because the maximum
distance between the nodes is limited by
the length of the cabling used.
o Limited bandwidth: Ring topology has
limited bandwidth because all nodes must
share the same connection to the ring.
 Post Lab Task 2:
Implement the following topologies in packet tracer and attach screen shots
(Mesh, Star, and ring)?
Mesh topology

Figure 1 Mesh topology

Star topology

Figure 2 Star topology

Ring topology

Figure 3 Ring topology

Post Lab Task 3:
Explain the working of Hub using CISCO Packet tracer. Connect PC0, PC1, PC2,
PC3 and PC4 to a Hub and send a PDU from PC1 to PC4.
In CISCO Packet Tracer, a hub is a networking device that is used to connect multiple devices
together. When a device sends data to the hub, the hub broadcasts the data to all other devices that are
connected to it.
Conclusion:
In this lab we have learnt that Cisco Packet Tracer is a powerful simulation tool that allows users to
design, configure, and troubleshoot network topologies. It is widely used by students, educators, and
IT professionals to gain hands-on experience in networking concepts and technologies.
Hubs and switches are two types of network devices used to connect devices in a LAN. Hubs are
outdated and have been replaced by switches, which are more efficient and intelligent in forwarding
packets. Switches use MAC addresses to forward packets to their destination, while hubs broadcast
packets to all connected devices.
In Packet Tracer, users can simulate the behavior of hubs and switches and learn about their respective
functionalities. They can create and configure network topologies using these devices, and test
different scenarios to better understand their behavior.
Overall, Packet Tracer is a valuable tool for anyone looking to gain practical knowledge in
networking, and hubs and switches are essential components of LANs that users should be familiar
with.