What’s new in Packet Tracer 7.3.1?

Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3

Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 has already been released!

Packet Tracer 7.3
Packet Tracer 7.3

Current build is Packet Tracer 7.3.1.0362.

Have a look at Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 new features.

New features in Packet Tracer

Dynamic ARP Inspection

Based on DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection (DAI) is a security feature.

Rejecting ARP packets in which the advertised MAC address does not match any DHCP snooping entry for the switch port on which the ARP packet has been received.

This behavior prevents man-in-the-middle attacks, where an unfriendly station intercepts traffic for other stations by poisoning the ARP caches of its unsuspecting neighbors.

Dynamic ARP Inspection
Dynamic ARP Inspection

DAI relies on DHCP snooping switch database. DHCP snooping listens to DHCP message between DHCP clients and DHCP servers.

It builds a bindings database of valid tuples (MAC address, IP address, VLAN interface).

A sample Dynamic ARP Inspection lab is provided with Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3

Download Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 .deb package for Ubuntu 18.04.03 LTS from Netacad website.

As Packet Tracer is now distributed as a Debian .deb package, it can be installed using the dpkg command as any standard Ubuntu package.

Packet Tracer workspace improvements :

  • New workspace themes
  • Aligned workspace objects
  • Ability to deploy network devices to a specific rack
  • Accessibility update
  • Ability to name a physical rack

Protocol and software improvements :

  • IP OSPF Point-to-Point on Ethernet interface
  • IPv6 OSPF Point-to-Point on Ethernet interface
  • Dynamic ARP inspection
  • WLC GUI fixes and enhancements
  • DHCP snooping fixes and enhancements
  • Section output modifier for show commands
  • Accessibility, security, and usability enhancements and optimizations for all platforms
  • Upgraded PTSA and PTMO support
  • Various enhancements to existing protocols
New devices CAN BE ADDED NOW
  • Cisco 4331 Integrated Services Router
  • Wireless Lan Controller 3504

Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 added support for Ubuntu 18.04.3 (Bionic Weaver). Previous Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial) version which is no longer supported.

4331 Integrated Services Router

The Cisco ISR 4000 Series contains seven hardware platforms: the 4461 4451, 4431, 4351, 4331, 4321 and 4221 ISRs providing throughput capabilities upto 10Gbps.

It supports a wide range of WAN connectivity options such as T1, T3/, serial, 10Gigabit Ethernet, and 4G LTE capabilities.

It’s network programmability capabilities through NETCONF / YANG model allow operationnal cost savings and makes configuration of a large branch offices number easier.

NETCONF / YANG is a topic of the new CCNP Enterprise ENCOR exam.

Cisco 4331 Integrated Services Router
Cisco 4331 Integrated Services Router

Cisco ISR 4331 and ISR 4321 are emulated in Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1

They feature Cisco IOS image resilience through secure boot-image and secure boot-config commands.

The secure boot-image command copies the IOS image in a write-protected flash device not accessible in EXEC mode (It can be viewed in ROMMON mode.)

When turned on for the first time, the running image is secured. 

R1(config)# secure boot-image 
.Feb 11 25:40:13.170: %IOS_RESILIENCE-5-IMAGE_RESIL_ACTIVE: Successfully secured running image

R1(config)# secure boot-config 
.Feb 11 25:42:18.691: %IOS_RESILIENCE-5-CONFIG_RESIL_ACTIVE: Successfully secured config archive [flash:.runcfg-20150211-224218.ar]

Wireless Lan Controller 3504

Cisco3504 Wireless Controller is a compact and service-rich wireless LAN controller platform.

The platforms that enables next-generation wireless networks for branch office deployments and small to medium businesses; Optimized to enable 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless networks.

Cisco Wireless Lan Controller 3504
Cisco Wireless Lan Controller 3504

The 3504 WLC supports :

  • 4-Gbps throughput
  • 150 access points
  • 3000 clients
  • 1x Multigigabit Ethernet interface (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet), + 4x 1 Gigabit Etherne
  • 4096 VLANs

Keep me logged in feature

The netacad login page of Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 has been improved.

When Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 is started for the first time, the following screen is displayed.

A new “Keep me logged in option” is displayed at the bottom left corner of the page.

This new feature improves user experience and application launch time. Netacad login has to be renewed after 3 month.

Keep me logged in feature
Keep me logged in feature

Cisco CCNA Packet Tracer Ultimate labs: CCNA 200-301 labs

Cisco CCNA 200-301

Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1.0362 files checksums

File : PacketTracer-7.3.1-win64-setup.exe (Windows 7, 8.1, 10)
MD5 : 1A11649D951849DB6D92B70F0820C944
SHA-1 : 6C26F0D9DB30936F32E2DF300780466E241F6055

File : PacketTracer-7.3.1-win32-setup.exe (Windows 7, 8.1, 10)
MD5 : B161CDBBACE88E9934C5BF7F4D3BC228
SHA-1 : 6E8DFABB5E29071824E3385648994B8464C076B9

File : PacketTracer_731_amd64.deb (Ubuntu 18.04 LTS)
MD5 : DEB84B17811F6FB39C8C888C38CE3119

File : PacketTracer731_mac.dmg
MD5 : 688C69987C003F40FC98CC5D0AD8229C
SHA-1 : A1954BDBD76321172600A4FEDCB1D3376C7B5DD6

Cisco Packet Tracer 7.3.1 can be installed on Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows 10,  Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and MacOS.

Warning : We strongly advise you to not download Cisco Packet Tracer from any website or torrent source different than Netacad website as the software can be infected with viruses or malware. This website provides SHA and MD5 checksums of official Packet Tracer version to help you to check if the software you downloaded is valid.

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