Configuring Servers


The Config tab offers three general levels of configuration: global, services, and interface. To configure at the global level, press the GLOBAL button to expand the Settings button (if it has not already been expanded). To configure services, press the SERVICES button to expand the list of services, and then choose the service. To configure an interface, press the INTERFACE button to expand the interface, and then choose the interface. Additionally, the Desktop tab provides tools to configure IP settings, open a host command line interface, and generate PDUs.

 

Global Settings

In the global settings, you can change the Display Name and Gateway of the server.

 

HTTP Service Configuration

In the HTTP service configuration, you can edit the included HTML pages such as index.html, helloworld.html, and image.html using a subset of HTML tags. Additionally, you can also add or remove HTML files from the service. When a PC accesses an HTML page on the server using the Web Browser, the HTML page will load in the Web Browser.

 

DHCP Service Configuration

In the DHCP service configuration, you can set up the server to be a DHCP server with many different DHCP pools. To add a DHCP pool, enter the Pool Name, Default Gateway, DNS Server, the Start IP address to lease, the Subnet Mask, and the Maximum number of Users to lease IP addresses to and then click Add. If you want to make changes to an existing DHCP pool, select the pool from the list and edit the fields you want to make changes to then click Save when you are done editing. If you want to remove a DHCP pool from the server, select the pool from the list and click Remove.

The default DHCP pool serverPool cannot be modified or edited.

 

TFTP Service Configuration

In the TFTP service configuration, there are no parameters to set. The TFTP service contains a selection of IOS images that can be used to flash routers and switches. If you want to remove a certain IOS image from the server, select the IOS image from the list and click Remove.

 

DNS Service Configuration

In the DNS service configuration, you can set up a DNS server to translate domain names with different types of resource records, which are basic data elements in the Domain Name System. Packet Tracer currently supports four different types of resource records: Address (A) record, Canonical Name (CNAME) record, SOA (Start of Authority) record, and NS (Name Server) record. An A record is the most common type of resource record where its core functionality is to map a hostname to an IPv4 address. A CNAME record is used to specify that a domain name is an alias of another, canonical domain name. An SOA record is used to specify authoritative information about a DNS zone, including the primary name server, the email of the domain administrator, and several timers relating to refreshing the zone. An NS record is used to delegate a DNS zone to use a given authoritative name server.

To add a resource record, enter the Name of the resource record, select a Type of resource record, and then enter all required fields pertaining to the resource record such as Address for A Record, Host Name for CNAME, or Server Name for NS Record and then click Add. To modify an existing resource record, select the resource record from the list, edit the fields you want to change, and then click Save when you are done. If you want to remove a resource record, just select the resource record from the list and click Remove.

When you click on the DNS Cache button, you can view all of the queries cached by the DNS server. The cached queries will be retained on the DNS server for a period of time (TTL) set on the record stored on the SOA DNS server.

 

SYSLOG Service Configuration

In the SYSLOG service configuration, there are no parameters to set. The SYSLOG service logs messages from routers and switches in the network. For each entry, the Time, HostName, and the actual Message are logged in the server.

 

AAA Service Configuration

In the AAA service configuration, you can set up the server to be a RADIUS or TACACS server. To add a RADIUS or TACACS server, enter the Client Name, Client IP, Secret key, select either Radius or Tacacs as the Type of AAA server, and then click on the + button. To remove a AAA server, select the AAA server entry in the list and click on the - button. In addition to configuring the AAA server, you also need to add authorized users. To add authorized users, enter the UserName and Password for the user and click on the + button. If you want to remove a user, select the user from the list and click on the - button.

 

NTP Service Configuration

In the NTP service configuration, you can set up the server to be an NTP server so that the date and time on the configured routers and switches are synchronized. By default, the date and time on the server is synchronized with your local machine. If you wish, you can manually set the time and date as well. You can also set up Authentication by clicking on Enable and then entering a Key and Password.

 

Interface Configuration

Servers can support an Ethernet (copper or fiber), modem, or wireless interface. In general, you can set the interface Port Status, Bandwidth, Duplex, MAC Address, IP Address, Subnet Mask, Link Local Address, and IPv6 Address. These options vary slightly for each interface type.

 

IP Configuration Utility

In the Desktop tab, click the IP Configuration icon to bring up this utility where you can set the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway.

 

Command Prompt Utility

In the Desktop tab, click the Command Prompt button to bring up the command prompt. In the prompt, you can issue the following commands:

  • ?
  • arp
  • help
  • ipconfig
  • ipv6config
  • netstat
  • ping
  • snmpget
  • snmpgetbulk
  • snmpset
  • ssh
  • telnet
  • tracert

 

Traffic Generator Utility

The Traffic Generator utility is similar in functionality to the Add Simple PDU and Add Complex PDU tool in the Common Tools Bar, but with some key differences. The Traffic Generator utility is explained in detail in Configuring PCs & Laptops.