Help File

Section 1 Overview
The Boson lab compiler is an add-in application that enables the user to design labs that
'plug-in to the Boson Lab Navigator. Using this application a user can write their own
labs, package them up into a single '.lab Iile, and distribute the labs to their students or
colleagues.

Section 2 Basics
The basics oI this application are simple. First create the Iollowing Iiles Ior each lab to be
included in the lab package:
Lab Instructions (.doc, .pdI, or .txt)
Create the Network Design (.top Iile) in the Network Designer
Create the Loading Network ConIiguration .nwc and .rtr Iiles Ior each router (iI
desired)
Create the Grading Network ConIigurations .nwc and .rtr Iiles Ior each router (iI
desired)
Lab Image Ior display in Lab Navigator (this can be your company or school
logo)

AIter all these Iiles are created Ior each lab to be added, package the labs into their own
.lab Iile and send the lab package to a Iriend or Iellow student Ior loading into their
Boson NetSim application.

Section 3 Lab Tutorial
The Iollowing section is a technical overview oI how to create a lab, save it as a package,
and load the package into the Lab Navigator.

Step 1) Create a Text document using MicrosoIt Notepad with instructions on how to
complete the lab. For example purposes this Iile will be the Iollowing simple
instructions:

1) Set the hostname to R1 on Router 1.
2) Assign an ip address oI 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0 on Ethernet 0.

Save this Iile as instructions.txt on your desktop.

Step 2) Load the Network Designer (Start-~Programs-~Boson SoItware-~ Boson NetSim
Ior CCNP-~Boson Network Designer) and create your own network design. For the
purposes oI this lab just add two 2501 routers on the network. Right Click on Router 1
and select the 'Add Connection to: option and select Ethernet 0.



Step 3) Select Router 2 Ethernet 0 Ior the other side oI the connection and click Finish.



Step 4) Now save the Iile using the File-~Save option. Save the Iile to your desktop and
call it lab1.top.




Step 5) Open the Boson NetSim Ior CCNP (Start-~Programs-~Boson SoItware-~ Boson
NetSim Ior CCNP-~Boson NetSim). As soon as the program loads select the Boson
NetSim application that is across your taskbar at the bottom oI your screen. Select the
File-~Load Netmap menu option.


Step 6) Select the Iile on your desktop called lab1.top and click open.

Step 7) In Step 1 the instructions asked the student to conIigure Router 1 with an ip
address oI 10.1.1.1 /24 and a hostname oI R1. For demonstration purposes Router 2 will
be loaded pre-conIigured as a part oI the loading conIiguration. Select Router 2 Irom the
e-Routers menu.


Enter a hostname oI R2 and an ip address oI 10.1.1.2 255.255.255.0 and enable the
interIace.

Router~
Router~enable
Router#conIig t
Router(conIig)#hostname R2
R2(conIig)#int E0
R2(conIig-iI)#ip add 10.1.1.2 255.255.255.0
R2(conIig-iI)#no shut

Step 8) Now save the entire network conIig to your desktop. Use the File-~Save Multi
Device ConIigs and save to the desktop the Iilename loading.nwc. The loading
conIigurations are now complete. Continue to create the grading conIiguration.

Step 9) Select Router 1 Irom the eRouters menu. Enter a hostname oI R1 and an ip
address oI 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0 and enable the interIace.

Router~
Router~enable
Router#conIig t
Router(conIig)#hostname R1
R1(conIig)#int E0
R1(conIig-iI)#ip add 10.1.1.2 255.255.255.0
R1(conIig-iI)#no shut

Step 10) Again save the entire network conIig. Use the File-~Save Multi Device ConIigs
and save to the desktop the Iilename grading.nwc. The Iinal grading conIiguration is now
complete. These Iiles will be used to determine iI the student has completed the lab
properly.

All Files have been created at this point. It is time to load all oI the Iiles into the lab
Compiler. Open the lab Compiler and Iill in the Iollowing inIormation.

Tab Title :Testing
Section Title: Demo
Lab Title: Lab 1

For the lab Document click the Browse button and on the screen that pops up change the
'Files oI Type to be Text Document. Now Iind the instructions.txt on your desktop and
click Open.

Click Browse next to the Topology Iile Iield and point to the lab1.top on your desktop.
When you are Iinished your screen should look like the screen below. Click Next ~~.




Step 11) Click Browse next to the Loading NWC Iield and point to the loading.nwc on
your desktop. Click Browse next to the Grading NWC Iield and point to the grading.nwc
on your desktop. When you are Iinished your screen should look like the screen below.
Click Next ~~.


Step 12) In the description Iield just type, 'Demo Lab Ior the Lab Compiler. And click
Next.

Step 13) Click Finish to complete adding lab 1.

Step 14) You are now ready to create the lab package. Looking at the screen below you
can see the lab you created on the leIt in a hierarchical view. II you were to add more
labs they would show up here also. To create the lab package click the Save Current Lab
Package button. Save the Iilename as Lab1Pack.lab on your desktop.


Step 15) Close the Lab Compiler and Open up the Boson NetSim Ior CCNP. When the
NetSim loads the Lab Navigator should load to the Iront. On the lab navigator click the
button across the top navigation bar labeled Add Tab.



Locate the Lab1Pack.lab Iile on your desktop and click Open. You will see a button
appear on your leIt menu titled 'Testing. You can now use your lab just as you would
any other lab within the lab navigator.




Section 4 Verifying the Lab Works

For demonstration purposes lets now go over the steps required to veriIy the lab works
properly in the simulator. First double click on the Lab1. A new window will appear
with the lab name and lab description on it.



The view lab button will load the instructions Ior the lab. Click on the Load Lab button
and click yes to the message box that pops up. You will see two windows created in the
simulator (one Ior each router) and then the simulator will ask you iI it can load the
Loading ConIigurations. Click yes and the simulator will cycle through each device and
load the starting conIiguration needed Ior the device. When the program is Iinished you
will be looking at Router 2 that already has a hostname oI R2(this veriIies the loading
conIiguration worked properly).

To complete the lab select Router 1 Irom the eRouters drop down. Set the hostname to
R1 and the ip address on Ethernet 0 to 10.1.1.1 /24. When you are Iinished switch back
to the Lab Navigator and click the Grade Me button. Make sure the correct lab is
selected Ior Grading.


Click the Grade Me button. II you completed the lab your screen will look like the
Iollowing.


Congratulations you have now completed this section. As you can see the lab compiler
oIIers many opportunities to add your own labs to the program and then distribute them
to your students or Iriends.

For any questions regarding the Lab Compiler please email netsimboson.com.