Part 1 – Build the Network Topology
Part 1 – Build the Network Topology
Objective
In this lesson, we'll build two Local Area Networks (LANs) connected by two routers.
By the end of this lesson, you'll have:
📡 2 Routers
🔀 2 Switches
💻 6 PCs
🔌 All devices connected with the correct cables
We won't configure anything yet. Today is all about building the network.
Step 1: Open Cisco Packet Tracer
Where to do it
Open Cisco Packet Tracer.
Wait for the workspace to appear.
What is Cisco Packet Tracer?
Cisco Packet Tracer is a software application that lets you design and test computer networks without using real networking equipment.
Why do we use it?
It allows you to practice networking safely before working with expensive equipment.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Before engineers install equipment in a company, they often plan and test the network design. Packet Tracer lets you do the same thing virtually before touching any real hardware.
Step 2: Add the Routers
Where to find it
Network Devices → Routers
Drag two routers into the workspace.
What is a Router?
A router connects different networks and decides the best path for data to travel.
Why do we need two routers?
Each router represents a different office or location. Later, they will exchange information so users in both locations can communicate.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Imagine a company with one office in Abuja and another in Lagos. Each office has its own local network. A router in each office connects those networks so employees can share files, emails, and applications.
Step 3: Add the Switches
Where to find it
Network Devices → Switches
Drag two switches into the workspace.
What is a Switch?
A switch connects devices within the same Local Area Network (LAN), allowing them to communicate efficiently.
Why do we need a switch?
Instead of connecting every computer directly to the router, all the computers connect to the switch, which then connects to the router.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Think of a switch as a power extension board. Instead of plugging every device directly into the wall socket, you plug them into the extension board, which provides one central connection.
In networking, the switch becomes the central connection point for all the computers in an office.
Step 4: Add the PCs
Where to find it
End Devices → PC
Drag six PCs into the workspace.
Arrange:
Network A
PC1
PC2
PC3
Network B
PC4
PC5
PC6
What is a PC?
A PC is an end device used by people to access the network.
Why do we need six PCs?
They represent users working in two different offices.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Imagine three employees working in the Abuja office and three employees working in the Lagos office. Each employee has a computer connected to the company network.
Step 5: Connect the PCs to the Switches
Where to find it
Connections → Copper Straight-Through
What to do
Connect every PC to its switch.
What is a Copper Straight-Through cable?
It is a standard Ethernet cable used to connect different types of devices, such as a computer to a switch.
Why do we use it?
Because a PC and a switch perform different roles in the network.
🌍 Real-Life Example
In a real office, every employee's desktop computer is connected by an Ethernet cable to a network switch, usually located in a communications cabinet or server room. Packet Tracer is simulating that same setup.
Step 6: Connect the Switches to the Routers
Where to do it
Connections → Copper Straight-Through
Connect:
Switch A → Router A
Switch B → Router B
What is an Interface?
An interface is a physical port on a networking device where a cable is connected.
Why connect the switch to the router?
The router provides a path from the local office network to other networks.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Think of the switch as the roads inside a housing estate. They connect all the houses together.
The router is the main gate that connects the estate to the outside world. Anyone leaving or entering the estate passes through that gate.
Step 7: Connect Router A to Router B
Where to find it
Connections → Copper Cross-Over
Connect:
Router A GigabitEthernet0/1
to
Router B GigabitEthernet0/1
What is a Copper Cross-Over cable?
A Copper Cross-Over cable is used to directly connect similar devices, such as two routers.
Why do we use it?
It creates a direct link so both routers can exchange data.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Imagine two company branches connected by a dedicated fibre or Ethernet link leased from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Employees in one branch can access shared resources in the other branch through this connection. In Packet Tracer, the cross-over cable represents that dedicated link between the two offices.
Step 8: Verify the Topology
What to do
Check that:
All six PCs are connected.
Both switches are connected to their routers.
The two routers are connected together.
The correct cable type is used for each connection.
Why is this important?
Even if your IP addresses and router configurations are correct, the network will not work if the physical connections are wrong.
🌍 Real-Life Example
Imagine building a new office. Even if every employee has a computer and the IT team has configured the software perfectly, if the network cables were never plugged in, nobody could access the company network. Networking always starts with the physical connections.
This teaching style is powerful because every step answers five questions:
Where do I find it?
What is it?
Why do I need it?
How is it used in real life?
What should I see after doing it?
That combination helps beginners understand not just how to build a network in Packet Tracer, but why each device and action matters in a real-world environment.
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