Objectives
In this activity, you will build a simple network in Packet Tracer.
- Part 1: Build a Simple Network
- Part 2: Configure the End Devices and Verify Connectivity
Instructions
Part 1: Build a Simple Network
In this part, you will build a simple network by deploying and connecting network devices.
Note: You are working with a simplified topology. Some devices, such as redundant devices for network reliability, are not shown. This is to keep the network simple so that you can focus on achieving the learning objectives for this activity.
Step 1: Add network devices to the workspace.
In this step, you will add a PC and PLC in Cell Zone 1. In addition, you will add a Toggle Push Button to complete Cell Zone 2 to operate the motor.
A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is an industrial digital computer used to control manufacturing machinery or processes. PLCs are programmed with specialized software to perform specific tasks by receiving information from sensors, control actuators, and other devices in real time.
Use the Packet Tracer Device-Type Selection Box to add the following devices to the workspace. The category and sub-category associated with the device are listed below:
For Cell Zone 1:
- PC: End Devices > End Devices > PC
- PLC: Components > Boards > PLC
For Cell Zone 2:
- Toggle Push Button: Components > Sensors > Toggle Push Button
Step 2: Change display names of the nework devices.
- To change the display names of the network devices, click the device icon in the Logical Workspace.
- To change the device name, click the name of the device.
- Enter the new name of the newly added device: PC1, PLC1, and Button.
Step 3: Add the physical cabling between devices in Cell Zone 1.
Create copper Ethernet cable connections between devices and the network switch.
- PC1 connects to an Ethernet port on CellZoneSW1 with a copper straight-through cable. In the Device-Type Selection Box, click Connections (lightning bolt icon). Select the copper straight-through cable and attach it to the FastEthernet0 interface of PC1 and any available Ethernet port on CellZoneSW1.
- PLC1 also connects to an Ethernet port on CellZoneSW1 with a copper straight-through cable. Select the copper straight-through cable and attach it to the GigabitEthernet0 interface of PLC1 and any available Ethernet port on CellZoneSW1.
Step 4: Connect a component to PLC2 in Cell Zone 2.
Add the IoT custom cable from the Device-Type Selection Box to connect components.
The Button will connect to the D0 port on PLC2 in Cell Zone 2. Click Connections (lightning bolt icon). Select the IoT custom cable and attach it to the D0 port on the Button and the D0 port on PLC2.
Part 2: Configure the End Devices and Verify Connectivity
Step 1: Configure PC1 and PLC1.
In Cell Zone 1, you will configure the PC and PLC to receive IP addresses via DHCP.
- Click PLC1. In the Config tab, select DHCP to receive an IP address via DHCP.
- Click PC1. In the Desktop tab, navigate to IP Configuration to verify that DHCP is enabled, and the PC has received an IP address.
- Select DHCP for the IP Configuration heading if you do not see an IP address for the IPv4 Address field. Observe the process as the PC receives an IP address from the DHCP server.
DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol. This service assigns IP addresses to devices dynamically. In this simple network, InsideServer is configured to assign IP addresses to devices. Without DHCP, you would need to manually assign IP addresses and other necessary information to each individual device that should communicate on the network.
- Close IP Configuration. In the Desktop tab, click Command Prompt.
- At the prompt, enter ipconfig /all to review the IPv4 addressing information that was received from the DHCP server. The PC should have received an IPv4 address in the 172.16.10.x range.
Note: There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. An IPv4 (internet protocol version 4) address is a string of numbers in the form of x.x.x.x as you have been using in this activity. As the internet grew, more IP addresses became necessary. So IPv6 (internet protocol version 6) was introduced in the late 1990s to address the limitations of IPv4. The details of IPv6 addressing are beyond the scope of this activity.
- Test connectivity to sec.srv from PC1. From the command prompt, issue the command ping sec.srv. It may take a few seconds for the pings to return. You should receive four replies.
- After you have verified that the pings to sec.srv are successful, close the command prompt. Open the web browser and navigate to sec.srv.
Step 2: Verify the connectivity between the components.
In this step, you will verify the interaction between the components you have connected to the PLC in Cell Zone 2.
Alt-click the Button. The LED on the motor should light.
If the LED is not lit, verify the Button and LED are connected to the correct I/O ports as instructed above.
Reflection
Now that you have verified connectivity to sec.srv, use the command ipconfig from the Command Prompt of the PC1 to fill out the IP addressing table below:
The IP addresses for the end devices can range from 172.16.10.100 – 172.16.10.254. Each NIC will get a unique IP address in the same network.
The subnet mask is used to differentiate the host and the network ID portions of the IP address. You can relate the IP address to your street address. The subnet mask defines the length of the street name. The network part of the address is your street, 172.16.10. The house number is the host part of the IP address. For the IP address 172.16.10.100, the house number is 100 and the street is 172.16.10. If there is more than one house on the same street, it will have a unique address, such as 172.16.10.101. The maximum number of houses on this street is 155, ranging from 100 to 254, as configured by the DHCP server in this activity.
The default gateway is analogous to the street intersection. The traffic from 172.16.10 street must exit through the intersection to reach another street. Another street is another network. In this network, the default gateway is the device (in this case, InsideSwitch) that directs the traffic from the local network to another inside network or to the routing device, which will send the traffic to an outside network. Routing devices can be routers, firewalls, or Layer 3 switches.