← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Building a small network in a network simulator

Software like Filius where you place devices, set each IP address and subnet mask, connect them with cables, then send a ping to test they can reach each other.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Networked Systems and Access Control — Module 48, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 94

Understanding Building a small network in a network simulator in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: Setting a unique IP address on each device is a key step when building a network in a simulator. Two addresses that match in the first three numbers with this mask are on the same network, so the ping between them should succeed. A switch connects the computers in a LAN. A web browser is software, not a network device you cable up. Ping only tests whether a device can be reached. It does not change any settings. Mismatched masks can make devices disagree about which network they are on. Fix the wrong setting, then ping again. Always retest after a change. A successful ping shows the fix worked.

Common mistakes: Each part of an IPv4 address must be 0 to 255, so 256 is invalid. The line should be set PC1 ip 192.168.1.10. Only one switch, SW1, was added, so PC1 cannot be cabled to SW2. It should be connect PC1 to SW1.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 41–55) and word search (Modules 12–55).

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Learning
Duo
In a network simulator like Filius, what do you do first when building a small network?
Place the computers, a switch and a router on the workspaceSend a ping before any devices are added
Matches
PC1: 192.168.1.10 / 255.255.255.0 and PC2: 192.168.5.20 / 255.255.255.0
↓
PC2 has the wrong network part (192.168.5), so it is not on the same network as PC1 and the ping fails. Change it to 192.168.1.20.
Applying
Meanings
Term
network simulator
Meaning
Software like Filius where you place devices, set each IP address and subnet mask, connect them with cables, then send a ping to test they can reach each other.
Practice
add computer PC1
Testing
Gaps
add PC1
Check Answer
Spots
1add computer PC1
2set PC1 ip 192.168.1.256

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Quick Questions

1. In a network simulator like Filius, what do you do first when building a small network?
A. Send a ping before any devices are added
B. Place the computers, a switch and a router on the workspace ✓
You start by adding devices. A ping needs devices to exist before it can travel between them.
2. Which device do you add so several computers on the same LAN can be cabled together?
A. A web browser
B. A switch ✓
A switch connects the computers in a LAN. A web browser is software, not a network device you cable up.
3. Two computers are on the same network. Which pair of settings is correct?
A. 192.168.1.10 and 192.168.1.11, both with mask 255.255.255.0 ✓
B. 192.168.1.10 and 192.168.2.11, both with mask 255.255.255.0
With mask 255.255.255.0, the first three numbers must match. 192.168.2.11 is on a different network.
4. What must each computer in your simulated network have set before it can be tested?
A. An IP address and a subnet mask ✓
B. A username and a padlock icon
Each device needs an IP address and a subnet mask so the simulator knows which network it belongs to.
5. Why do you send a test ping in the simulator?
A. To check that one device can reach another ✓
B. To give a device a new IP address
Ping only tests whether a device can be reached. It does not change any settings.

Match the Pairs

ping 192.168.1.20 → Sends a test message from one simulated computer to another to check that they can reach each other
255.255.255.0 → A subnet mask you set on each simulated device so it knows which addresses are on its own network
Give a simulated computer an IP address so it can be found on the network → IP address: 192.168.1.10
Devices on the same small network share the first three numbers of their IP addresses and use the same mask → 192.168.1.10 and 192.168.1.20 with mask 255.255.255.0
PC1: 192.168.1.10 / 255.255.255.0 and PC2: 192.168.5.20 / 255.255.255.0 → PC2 has the wrong network part (192.168.5), so it is not on the same network as PC1 and the ping fails. Change it to 192.168.1.20.
PC1: 192.168.1.10 / 255.255.255.0 and PC2: 192.168.1.20 / 255.0.0.0 → PC2 has a different subnet mask from PC1, so the two devices disagree about which network they are on. Change the mask to 255.255.255.0.

Key Term

network simulator
Software like Filius where you place devices, set each IP address and subnet mask, connect them with cables, then send a ping to test they can reach each other.

Fill in the Blanks

1. add computer PC1 add switch S1 connect PC1 S1
Hint: Type the word for the type of device you are placing first, which will be given the name PC1.
2. add switch S1 add router R1 connect S1 R1
Hint: Type the device that links this small network to other networks.
3. set PC1 ip 192.168.1.10 set PC1 mask 255.255.255.0
Hint: Type the keyword for the setting that shows which part of the address is the network.
4. set PC1 ip 192.168.1.10 set PC2 ip 192.168.1.11 ping 192.168.1.11
Hint: Type the command that sends a test message to check two devices can reach each other.
5. PC1: 192.168.1.10 / 255.255.255.0 PC2: 192.168.1.11 / 255.255.255.0 ping 192.168.1.10
Hint: Type the third number of PC2's address so it sits on the same network as PC1 under this mask.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A add computer PC1
B set PC1 ip 192.168.1.256
C set PC1 mask 255.255.255.0
Line B — Each part of an IPv4 address must be 0 to 255, so 256 is invalid. The line should be set PC1 ip 192.168.1.10.
Question 2
A add computer PC1
B add computer PC2
C add switch SW1
D connect PC1 to SW2
E connect PC2 to SW1
Line D — Only one switch, SW1, was added, so PC1 cannot be cabled to SW2. It should be connect PC1 to SW1.
Question 3
A add computer PC1
B add computer PC2
C set PC1 ip 192.168.1.11
D set PC2 ip 192.168.1.11
Line C — PC1 now has the same IP address as PC2, which causes an address conflict. Each device needs its own address, so PC1 should be 192.168.1.10.
Question 4
A PC1 ip 192.168.1.10 /24
B PC2 ip 192.168.1.20 /24
C ping from PC1 to 192.168.2.20
Line C — PC2's address is 192.168.1.20, not 192.168.2.20. Pinging the wrong address means no reply. It should be ping from PC1 to 192.168.1.20.
Question 5
A add router R1
B set R1 ip 192.168.5.1
C set PC1 gateway 192.168.1.1
Line B — The router address must be on the same network as PC1 and match the gateway set on PC1. It should be set R1 ip 192.168.1.1.

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