Today, there are various software environments that simulate the structure and functioning of computer networks such as Cisco Packet Tracer, UNetLab, NET-Simulator, NetEmul, GNS3, etc., which differ from each other in compatibility with computer hardware, speed, and interface. Using such software environments allows you to create networks of different topology and structure by emulating network components and visualize on the computer screen: the processes of configuring components and their interaction; the processes of various network protocols; setting up the connection of the local network and the global network to the Internet; as well as the functioning of the computer network as a whole. This article discusses the use of one of the NetEmul software environments, which allows you to model the structure and functioning of computer networks. The features of the software environment that provides isolation of the network model functioning processes from other computer processes are described. Also presented are laboratory works in the NetEmul software environment, after which students will learn how to create a local network, set IP addresses, check the performance of the local network, visually see the workability of the local network, and examine its work in more detail using displayed statistics and a service for flexible tracking of events for each network device.
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