If you are seeking a network certification, a router emulator can save you money by avoiding the need to buy a real router. Router emulators are software programs that run on PCs and provide the look and feel of a router configuration interface. Using a router emulator instead of an actual router has advantages and disadvantages
Routers Routers are devices that are used to connect networks together and to connect networks to the Internet. While a network switch can typically be placed on a network and work automatically, a router requires some configuration before it can be attached to a network and be used. Router configuration is usually done using a terminal emulator connected to a console port on the router.
Router Emulators A router emulator is a complex software program or suite of programs that acts like a router and often actually runs the software that runs on a real router. Network engineers use router emulators to build test networks. This allows them to prove their network design ideas before spending money on equipment. Emulators are also great for anyone seeking a networking certification since they allow the student to practice configuring a virtual router or network without incurring the cost of a real piece of hardware.
Emulator Disadvantages Emulators are not only complex, but they are big software programs. They take up a lot of memory and processing power, although most emulators allow you to throttle memory and CPU utilization to a reasonable level. Also, a router emulator is virtual and not physical, so it is not useful for training on a emulator configuration issue that requires working with the actual equipment.
Emulator Advantages As mentioned above, the primary advantage of a router emulator is the dollar savings. In addition, you can typically emulate a network of routers, rather than just one. This gives you the opportunity to test network design ideas to see if they will actually work. When you are working with an emulator, you do not have to wrestle with the real hardware, plugging in and unplugging wires, resetting the device and other activities that are required with physical hardware.