Packet Tracer – Connecting Devices to Build IoT
Topology
Objectives
Get familiar with using Packet Tracer 7.0 and its IoT connections.
Background / Scenario
In this activity you will build a connected solar-based power supply.
The sun charges the solar panel which sends electricity to the battery for power storage and distribution. A
power meter connected between them reads and display the amount of power being captured by the solar
panel.
Because all devices are connected (IoT capabilities), they register themselves with a registration server,
allowing a user to monitor the entire system from a web browser (running in the PC).
Required Resources
Packet Tracer 7.0
Part 1: Adding and Connecting the Necessary Devices
You will start with four LEDs, a PC, a switch and a server. Add the following devices by locating and dragging
them to Packet Tracer’s work space:
Note: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are electronic components used to emit light. LEDs are widely used in
electronics as a form of user interaction.
a. A PT-Solar Panel device. PT-Solar Panel can be found under End Devices >> Power Grid.
b. A PT-Battery device. PT-Battery can be found under End Devices >> Power Grid.
c. A PT-Power Meter device. PT-Power Meter can be found under End Devices >> Power Grid.
d. Using IoE Custom Cables, connect the solar panel and the battery to the power meter according to the
table below. The IoE Custom Cable can
Cable can be found under Connections.
Connections.
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Lab – Python on Packet Tracer 7.0
Use the table below to find the correct ports:
Device Port Power Meter Port
Solar Panel D0 D0
Battery D0 D1
e. Using IoE Custom Cables, connect the LEDs to the battery according to the table below. The IoE
Custom Cable can be found under Connections.
Use the table below to find the correct ports:
Device Battery Port
LED1 D1
LED2 D2
LED3 D3
LED4 D4
Note: Packet Tracer may name IoT devices differently. While the name will not impact the activity, feel
free to rename your devices for easy identification.
Note: For simplicity, Packet Tracer does not implement power cable properly. Wiring and powering
devices involve concepts such as ground, polarity, specific connectors, cable width and more. For
simplicity, Packet Tracer hides all these variables behind the multi-use cable IoE Custom Cable. In real
world designs, make sure to select the proper cable and connectors.
f. Using an Ethernet straight-through cable, connect the solar power, the battery and the power meter and
the switch according the table below. This is to ensure they can communicate to the Server. Ethernet
straight-through cables can be found under Connections.
Device Switch Port
Solar Panel Fa0/3
Power Meter Fa0/4
Battery Fa0/5
Part 2: Configuring The Devices
Now that the devices are properly cabled, they must be configured. Since this system relies on an IP
network, the devices must be configured with correct IP information. Since the server is configured to also
act as a DHCP server, the IoT devices should be configured as DHCP clients in order to learn IP
information automatically.
a. Click the solar panel, navigate to the Config tab >> GigabitEthernet0 and select DHCP under IP
Configuration.
b. Click the power meter, navigate to the Config tab >> FastEthernet0 and select DHCP under IP
Configuration.
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Lab – Python on Packet Tracer 7.0
c. Click the battery, navigate to the Config tab >> FastEthernet0 and select DHCP under IP
Configuration.
What IP addresses were learnt by the solar panel, power meter and battery?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Before the device can operate properly, they must register to the server. Configure the devices with the
server’s IP address to allow them to find and communicate to the server.
d. Click the solar panel, navigate to the Config tab >> Settings and select Remote Server under IoE
Server. Enter the following server information:
Server Address: 1.0.0.1
Username: admin
Password: admin
e. Click Connect.
f. Repeat the process for the power meter and for the battery. Use the same server address, username and
password as shown above.
Part 3: Using the System
a. Now that all devices are connected, notice how the solar panel charges the battery.
b. Notice how the LEDs draw power from battery for operation.
c. Notice how the LEDs go dark if the battery has no charge.
d. Click the PC and navigate to Desktop >> Web Browser .
e. Type the IP address of the server, 1.0.0.1, and press enter.
f. Use the following credentials to log into the server:
Username: admin
Password: admin
How many devices are displayed in the page? What are their names?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Why are the other devices, the Switch, the Server and the PC not listed? Is this a mistake?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
g. Click each device to expand it and monitor the status of a specific device.
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Lab – Python on Packet Tracer 7.0
Part 4: Reflection
The power of this IoT solution becomes clear when a user can monitor the power consumption of the system
not only locally but also remotely. One step further would be to connect an microcontroller and write code to
turn off one or more the LEDs when the battery power dropped below a pre-defined threshold. This energy
saving mode would allow the battery some time to recharge before all the LEDs could be brought up again.
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