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My Answers to Reflection Questions
Correct Reflection Question Answers
Besides Ethernet and the console cables, what are other ways to connect devices?
USB console cable.
What is the difference between the wiring closet Rack, Table, and Shelf?
Heavy devices, such as servers and network devices are mounted on the rack. PCs, laptops, and other ‘personal’ devices are placed on the table. The shelf is for unused devices.
How does Logical Mode differ from Physical Mode?
Logical mode provides a high level view of our network topology, and ignores any of the physical apsect of the network. Physical mode takes account of the physical scale and placement of the devices in the network.
Packet Tracer File Types
The .pka file type is a Packet Tracer Activity file and is the file type you will experience most often. Think of the “a” in .pka as meaning “activity.” A Packet Tracer Activity has an instructions window. The activity is usually scored as well. This file type contains two networks: an initial network and an answer network. The initial network opens when you launch the activity. The answer network runs in the background and can be used to provide scoring and feedback to learners as they complete the activity. Learners do not have access to the answer network in a .pka file.
The Packet Tracer Activity instructions window provides the procedures required to complete the activity, assignment, or assessment. The instructions window can also display completion percentage to track how much of the activity has been successfully completed. The Check Results feature can be enabled to provide feedback.
The .pkt file type is created when a simulated network is built in Packet Tracer and saved. The .pkt file can also have graphic background images embedded within it. However, .pkt files have no instructions window or activity scoring.
The .pksz file type is specific to Packet Tracer Tutored Activities (PTTA). These files bundle a .pka file, media assets, and a scripting file for the hinting system. These activities provide support, in the form of contextualized hints, for students who are working on completing the activity.
You will see Save As PKZ… in the File menu. This file type was previously used to embed images and other files in a Packet Tracer file. However, images are now embedded directly within a regular .pkt or .pka file by default. Therefore, consider .pkz as a deprecated file type.
2.0.2 Cisco Packet Tracer Assessments
There are two types of assessment items that take advantage of Packet Tracer.
These include Packet Tracer Media Objects (PTMO) and Packet Tracer Skills Assessments (PTSA). PTMOs can be either a .pkt or .pka file.
A PTMO will show up inline with a question on your quiz, module exam, or some other type of graded assessment.
You launch the .pkt or .pka file directly from inside the assessment. Typically, you configure the network or investigate the topology, and then answer a multiple choice assessment question or questions.
You can encounter PTSAs at a mid-point in a course or at the end of the course.
PTSAs are summative skill assessments in which you demonstrate your skill by implementing the technologies that you have learned.
PTSAs are standalone assessments, have their own grading engine, and the results are recorded in a course gradebook, if there is one.
After completing a PTSA, you receive item level feedback for each graded component.
Click Play in the video to learn more about the PTMO and PTSA Packet Tracer files.
Module 2 – Create a Cisco Packet Tracer Network
In this module, you learned that there is more than one type of Packet Tracer file. These file types are used for different purposes and include: .pka, .pkt, .pksz, and .pkz.
The .pka file type is a Packet Tracer Activity file and is the file type you will experience most often. A .pka file has an instructions window. The activity is usually scored as well. This file type contains two networks: an initial network and an answer network. The .pkt file type is created when a simulated network is built in Packet Tracer and saved. A .pkt file has no instructions window or activity scoring.
You already know what a .pksz file is because you used it for the PTTA – Logical and Physical Mode Exploration in Module 1. These files bundle a .pka file, media assets, and a scripting file for the hinting system. These activities provide support, in the form of contextualized hints, for students who are working on completing the activity. The .pkz file is no longer used. You also learned about Packet Tracer Media Object (PTMO) and Packet Tracer Skills Assessment (PTSA) which are both used for assessment purposes.
This module also included instructional videos to help you complete the Packet Tracer – Create a Simple Network activity. In that .pka you used the logical mode to build a network, configure end devices and verify connectivity. And finally, another video demonstrated some of the advanced features of Cisco Packet Tracer. We recommend that you open up Cisco Packet Tracer and keep exploring!