Install and configure Packet Tracer 7 on Ubuntu 16.04.3

Starting with 16.04.4 you’ll also need to follow these instructions  after this tutorial. I’m working on a new tutorial for 18.04.

This tutorial demonstrates how to :  

• Install Cisco Packet Tracer 7
• Create a desktop launcher
• Associate Packet Tracer files

Installation

• Download Packet Tracer 7 from NetAcad
• Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + t) and extract the tar file :

$ cd ~/Downloads
$ tar xzvf PacketTracer71_64bit_linux.tar.gz

• Start the installation :

$ sudo ~/Downloads/PacketTracer71/./install

You will be ask to accept the terms and select a location to install (press ‘Enter’ to select the default location /opt/pt )

• You can launch PT7 by typing ‘packettracer’ in a terminal
• Delete the installation files :

$ sudo rm -rf ~/Downloads/{PacketTracer71,PacketTracer71_64bit_linux.tar.gz}

Desktop launcher

• Copy the .desktop file to your home directory with this command (edit this command if you installed PT7 in another directory) :

$ cp /opt/pt/bin/Cisco-PacketTracer.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/Cisco-PacketTracer.desktop

• Open and edit the new .desktop file (you can use gedit or nano if you’re not comfortable with vim) :

$ vim ~/.local/share/applications/Cisco-PacketTracer.desktop

• Replace the path for both the Exec and Icon lines (edit the path if you installed PT7 in a different directory) :

Exec=/opt/pt/packettracer
Icon=/opt/pt/art/app.png

• Make the file executable* :

$ chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/Cisco-PacketTracer.desktop

• You can now launch PT7 from the dash and lock it on the launcher if you want.

Associate Packet Tracer files 

• Create the following directories :

$ mkdir -p ~/.local/share/mime/packages ~/.local/share/icons

• Copy the .xml files to packages directory :

$ cp /opt/pt/bin/{Cisco-pka.xml,Cisco-pkt.xml,Cisco-pkz.xml} ~/.local/share/mime/packages/.

• Copy and rename the .png files to icons directory :

$ cp /opt/pt/art/{pka.png,pkt.png,pkz.png} ~/.local/icons/{application-x-pka.png,application-x-pkt.png,application-x-pkz.png}

• Update the mime and desktop databases :

$ sudo update-mime-database $HOME/.local/share/mime
$ sudo update-desktop-database $HOME/.local/share/applications

• Reboot.

* To learn about permissions in Linux click on this link