Cisco Packet Tracer (CPT) has long been the most popular CCNA lab learning tool, and its leadership position will likely continue for a while. However, Cisco made two changes to its Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) tool in 2024, which makes it a reasonable alternative to CPT and other CCNA network simulators. Those changes are: (a) the addition of low-overhead router and switch operating system images (RefPlats) called IOL and IOL-L2, respectively, and (2) CML Free Edition, for which Cisco charges no license fees. This video discusses simulators and emulators and then introduces Cisco Packet Tracer. Then, assuming you’ve watched the earlier videos in the playlist about CML-Free, it compares CPT to CML-Free for CCNA preparation – and then closes with a game plan for using both tools during your CCNA study journey. *Chapters* 00:00 Intro 01:15 Simulators 03:57 Emulators 07:18 Intro: Cisco Packet Tracer 11:25 Comparing Packet Tracer and CML-Free 13:34 CCNA Lab Tool Game Plan *Labs and Lab Tools Playlist!* 📽️ *Cisco U Free CML Course* (At least it was free when I added the link in February 2025!) *Video: Is Your Computer Powerful Enough to Use CML-Free?* 📽️ *Certskills Config Labs* 🥼 All Labs, Volume 1: 🥼 All Labs, Volume 2: 🥼 Labs with CML-Free Support: ======================================== *Product Links* Product links below. I make a small affiliate sales commission if you buy something! CCNA Library (Two Book Set): 📚 All CCNA products at Cisco Press: 🖨️ All Wendell's products at Cisco Press: 🧔🏼‍♂️ Page (News, Announcements): 📰 =========================================