Packet Tracer

[foofighterjim]

Hi All

 

Head of ICT has been asking me about using Packet Tracer to help deliver their GCSE curriculum (talk about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut). I have initially said no as I recall that you need to sign up to Netacad to download it and then you also need to use these credentials to sign into the software for it to work. I believe installing the software and then using these credentials on all of the computers would be in violation of the Netacad T&Cs, at least that is my interpretation of it. It is one of those scenarios where the head of ICT has simply said "this is how other schools are doing it" my standard reply "that doesn't mean its right or legal". I don't seem to be able to find any contact details for Netacad anywhere on their site so I am unable to ask them directly.

 

Netacad seem to have an educators section where you can sign up to be a Cisco Academy but having read this; it would also mean we would have to allow other Netacad users to enrol with us. Obviously this is not what we want to do, as we aren't providing any Cisco courses or even teaching their curriculum.

 

I have suggested using role play to help teach this particular aspect but apparently this doesn't cut it when trying to push the higher ability students.

 

So to summarise is anyone else using Packet Tracer on their network and how did you achieve it?

 

As always any help is greatly appreciated.

[Domino]

Could they use GNS3 instead? https://gns3.com/software

[FN-GM]

Could they use GNS3 instead? https://gns3.com/software

 

GNS can't emulate switches and also uses quite a lot of resources. There are also legal questions about getting hold of the IOS to work with it.

[foofighterjim]

Yes, that would be the problem with GNS, they want to simulate network traffic flow. In fairness I'm all for the idea if we can do it legally, its just that the way I have read the T&Cs suggests that sharing accounts is not allowed and using these credentials to activate Packet Tracer would effectively be doing just that.

[foofighterjim]

In answer to my own question I have found this: https://www.netacad.com/web/uk/home/-/blogs/computing-for-schools-course/

 

Looks like it is possible to sign up as a school as long as you fill out the form in a specific way.

[synaesthesia]

We have this installed on a separate, off-domain machine which is also used for a couple of computing competitions going on like Cyber Centurion. As it's a single account and single use it's not really flagged up an issue.

[iscott]

http://www.lernsoftware-filius.de/ ... works well (there is an English version with a sort-of-translated German to English PDF manual to go with it)

 

Can cover most if not all of the topics with this.

 

Also https://www.cybergamesuk.com/ for interactive exercises around firewalls etc.

 

All of GCSE Comp Sci topics/relevant units can be covered with combo of these.