Academy Conference 2010

Using Variable
Manager in Packet
Tracer Activity Wizard

Glenn Wright
Co-director CCNA CATC - Ft. Worth, TX
July 19, 2010

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Finding information
about Variable
Manager

Where is it and how do I get it?

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 Finding Information about
Variable Manager
There is additional information that can be obtained on
using the Variable Manager and other Packet Tracer
features.
•Click on the Packet Tracer download icon in
your Academy Connection home page.
•Scroll down the page and click on the Cisco Packet
Tracer additional tutorials and training materials link.
•Select the Advanced Tutorials for Packet Tracer ZIP file
to begin the download.

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 Finding Information about
Variable Manager
Cisco Packet Tracer additional tutorials and training materials

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 Finding Information about
Variable Manager
Topics that are available in
the Advanced Tutorials
on using Variable Manager
are shown to the right.

= Used in this session

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Packet Tracer
Variable Manager

So, What is the Variable Manager?

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 So, What is the Variable Manager?
The Variable Manager allows instructors to add dynamism
to activities. Numbers, strings, and IP addresses may be
assigned to a variable that is generated once or randomly
each time the learner runs an activity.

This session will focus on introducing Packet Tracer users

to the Variable Manager and how it can be used to modify
or create activities that enable students to gain more
practice with a task that provides multiple scenarios, but is
structurally the same.

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 Enabling the Variable Manager
The Variable Manager is located in the Activity Wizard,
which is located in the Extensions menu.

OR

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 Enabling the Variable Manager
To enable the Variable Manager, select either
Intermediate or Advanced as the Activity Creation
Experience setting in the Welcome panel.

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 Enabling the Variable Manager
Notice that once either the Intermediate or Advanced
option is selected, the Variable Manager tab becomes
visible.

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 Enabling the Variable Manager
Click on the Variable Manager tab
Then click on the Show Variable Manager Interface
checkbox at the bottom of the window.

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 Using the Variable Manager
In the Variable Manager window, there are two tabs that
are used: Pools and Variables.

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 Creating Pools
In the Pools tab, you can create a pool of numbers, strings,
or IP addresses.

•For the Number pool, you can create a pool of numbers

ranging from Min to Max.

•For the Strings pool, you can create a pool of strings

separated by a semicolon ";". The Strings pool can be a
list of IP addresses, text strings, or even numbers where
the pool is non-continuous.

•For the IP Address pool, you can create a pool of IP

addresses with the network address, mask address, and
the range of IP addresses.

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Example of Pools

Note the 1st IP Address & Last IP

Address shown are the network and
broadcast address. These addresses
can be changed manually.

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 Creating Variables
In the Variables tab, you can create the variables which
are drawn from an entire range of values, a random value,
or element position from any of the three types of pools
already mentioned.

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Example of Variables

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 Assigning Variables
•With Show Variable Manager Interface enabled, you can
set or assign variables in the Instructions text,
Assessment Items, and Initial Items.
•In the Answer Network panel, place the cursor where you
want the variable to be placed at and then click on the
Insert "< " button in the Variable Manager Interface.

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 Assigning Variables
•Variables can also be typed directly into the Assessment
Items to create complex variables. As seen in this Regular
Expression (using C++ format).

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 Assigning Variables
•In the Assessment Items and Initial Items, only the items
marked with a green dot can be assigned a variable. A solid
dot represents a variable that is in use.

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 Assigning Display Names as Variables
•Assigning display names for devices is done by going to
the Answer Network and clicking on Show Answer
Network. Then manually replace the default name by
clicking into the name field and typing the variable name
enclosed in double brackets.

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 Assigning Variables
•When assigning variables in the instructions, the variable
tag is inserted into the HTML code.

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 So, the Variable Manager is…
•The Variable Manager is an extension of the Activity
Wizard.
•Using the Variable Manager to create or modify an activity
will create new activities with dynamic features that give
students a variety of learning experiences.
•Remember further information on Variable Manager can
be obtained in the Advanced Tutorials.

Now it is time to practice using the Variable Manager.

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Packet Tracer
Variable Manager

Demonstration and Hands-on Activity

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 Variable Manager Demonstration
So, where do we begin? We will start by examining an activity
that has already been created:
Demonstration - Variable Manager Class C Subnetting.pka
This demonstration contains multiple scenarios, uses string
variables, uses variables in the display names, and accepts any
valid IP address within the proper subnet.
– How does it work?
– What do the variables and pools look like?
– What could we change or add to modify the activity?
– How could we modify the activity?

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 Variable Manager Activity
Activity - Variable Manager VLSM Activity.pka
We will begin this activity with a partially complete .pka file. In
this activity we will complete the following items:
•Convert a .pkt file to a .pka file
•Enable the Variable Manager
•Create Pools
•Create Variables
•Copy / Paste Instruction into the Activity
•Insert variables into the Answer Network
•Test the activity

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