Comparison between physical devices and simulator software for Cisco network technology teaching

The concepts of Cisco network technology mainly including routing and switching in teaching are difficult to be assimilated because of more abstract and no visualization. The research proposed simulator software solution to the above problem, and made comparison between physical lab with virtual lab, and analyzed the features available in some kinds of simulator software for selection, finally for students in different period who use three different lab ways, summarized the effect of simulator software in Routing & Switching Technology course through the comparison and analysis about typical dynamic routing protocol lab in course.