What Is Boson NetSim and What Can You Do With It?

Boson NetSim is a network simulator that emulates Cisco hardware and software so you can build and configure network topologies on a computer instead of on physical lab equipment. It sits in Boson's "Essential Learning" product line and is aimed at certification training — most directly for Cisco exams, though Boson also publishes training material for CompTIA, Microsoft, AWS, ISC2, ISACA, PMI, and ethical hacking topics. If you're studying for a Cisco certification and don't have access to a rack of routers and switches, NetSim is the tool Boson positions for that job.

What NetSim actually does

According to Boson's own product description, NetSim "simulates Cisco's hardware and software and is designed for certification training." In practice that means:

• You get a simulated environment containing Cisco device types (routers, switches, and the like) that you can cable together into topologies.
• You configure those devices through a simulated command-line interface, the same way you would on real gear.
• You can break things on purpose and practice troubleshooting without risking production hardware or buying equipment.

The value is repetition. Certification exams test whether you can recall commands and reason about configuration under pressure, and that comes from doing it many times. A simulator lets you reset a lab and run it again in seconds.

Who it's for

NetSim fits a fairly specific learner:

Boson also notes the simulator is "written by subject-matter experts," which matters mainly for whether the lab scenarios match what the exams actually test.

How it fits with Boson's other products

Boson sells several distinct things, and it's easy to confuse them:

• NetSim — the network simulator described above. Hands-on configuration practice.
• ExSim-Max Practice Exams — exam simulation, "designed to simulate the full exam experience." This tests knowledge; NetSim builds it.
• Practice Labs / Virtual IT Labs — pre-configured hardware hosted in the cloud with a step-by-step guide, for developing practical skills.
• Video Training and Courseware — tutorial instruction and instructor-led material.
• Free Tools — a subnet calculator, a networking tool, and a "Verbose Tech Vocabulary Game," available without buying a bundle.

Boson's own framing is that these work "outstanding as stand-alone learning tools" but that paired together they cover "everything you need to succeed." A common combination is NetSim for hands-on practice plus ExSim-Max to check whether you're actually ready.

What you can realistically do with it

A typical study loop looks like this:

1. Pick a lab scenario tied to the exam objective you're working on.
2. Build or load the topology in the simulator.
3. Configure the devices from the command line until the network behaves as specified.
4. Verify with show commands and connectivity tests.
5. Reset and repeat, or deliberately misconfigure something and practice finding the fault.

Steps 3 through 5 are where the learning happens. Reading about OSPF or VLAN trunking doesn't stick the way typing the commands and watching a link come up does.

Before you buy

Two things worth checking on the site itself, since they change:

• Which certifications and exam versions your chosen NetSim covers. Boson organizes products by vendor and career track, so confirm the version maps to the exam you're sitting.
• Pricing and licensing. Boson routes purchases through its checkout page, and it also sells organization-level training for students, employees, military personnel, and government employees. If you're buying for a team or a classroom, the individual product page may not be the right entry point.

NetSim is a practice environment, not a course. It won't teach you networking from zero — you still need study material to know what to configure and why. What it removes is the hardware barrier between you and the repetition that makes CLI knowledge stick.