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Build an irrigation evidence loop

Relate humidity, tank level, rain inhibit, schedule, and valve state without mistaking one sensor reading for irrigation proof.

Packet Pete, your practice guide

Packet Pete
Predict the reading, then compare it with the measurement.

Cisco Packet Tracer

Desktop lab

Tier 3 · Install required · Cisco account required

Version tested: Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 on Ubuntu 22.04 (Apptainer/Xvfb); project saved and reopened 2026-09-10. Date: 2026-09-10.

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Steps

Screens captured against Cisco Packet Tracer Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 on Ubuntu 22.04 (Apptainer/Xvfb); project saved and reopened 2026-09-10 on 2026-09-10; the tool may have moved on — the text steps are the contract.

  1. 1 Step 1

    Do
    Open lab.pkt in Packet Tracer and inspect the named Things in the Logical workspace.
    You will see
    Soil-Humidity, Irrigation-Valve, Tank-Level, and Rain-Guard form the field evidence loop.
    Why it matters
    Naming each sensor, dependency, action, and evidence source makes the test boundary reproducible.
    Step 1: real Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 view showing Soil-Humidity, Irrigation-Valve, Tank-Level, and Rain-Guard form the field evidence loop
    Step 1 · Cisco Packet Tracer; numbered callout added to a real capture. Enlarge screenshot (new tab)
  2. 2 Step 2

    Do
    On the Logical canvas, read the chapter-specific names beneath the devices and compare their roles.
    You will see
    The Logical canvas shows humidity, valve, tank-level, and rain-guard Things in this lab's named workspace.
    Why it matters
    Different physical jobs can share a network while still requiring different thresholds, safe states, and operating evidence.
    Step 2: real Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 view showing The Logical canvas shows humidity, valve, tank-level, and rain-guard Things in this lab's named workspace
    Step 2 · Cisco Packet Tracer; numbered callout added to a real capture. Enlarge screenshot (new tab)
  3. 3 Step 3

    Do
    On the Logical canvas, trace the solid PC0 cable and any visible dotted wireless associations back to Home Gateway0.
    You will see
    The solid black line connects PC0 to Home Gateway0; where dotted lines are visible, they mark wireless associations.
    Why it matters
    A visible association is evidence of topology, not by itself proof of authentication, registration, or delivery.
    Step 3: real Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 view showing The solid black line connects PC0 to Home Gateway0; where dotted lines are visible, they mark wireless associations
    Step 3 · Cisco Packet Tracer; numbered callout added to a real capture. Enlarge screenshot (new tab)
  4. 4 Step 4

    Do
    On the Logical canvas, identify each object that has no visible gateway line; do not count it as registered evidence.
    You will see
    Objects without a line to Home Gateway0 remain visibly outside the registered control path.
    Why it matters
    Packet Tracer physical objects are not automatically network endpoints, so an absent line must remain explicit.
    Step 4: real Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 view showing Objects without a line to Home Gateway0 remain visibly outside the registered control path
    Step 4 · Cisco Packet Tracer; numbered callout added to a real capture. Enlarge screenshot (new tab)
  5. 5 Step 5

    Do
    On the Logical canvas, use the model captions and names to separate sensing, actuation, service, and physical-context roles.
    You will see
    The device names and model captions distinguish sensors, actuators, service endpoints, and physical context.
    Why it matters
    Role labels keep a plausible diagram from being mistaken for measured control-loop behavior.
    Step 5: real Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 view showing The device names and model captions distinguish sensors, actuators, service endpoints, and physical context
    Step 5 · Cisco Packet Tracer; numbered callout added to a real capture. Enlarge screenshot (new tab)
  6. 6 Step 6

    Do
    Close and reopen lab.pkt, then compare the restored Logical workspace with this evidence image.
    You will see
    After reopening the saved project, the same lab-specific names, positions, and connection lines remain visible.
    Why it matters
    A reopen check proves persistence of the saved topology without inventing runtime readings or protocol semantics.
    Step 6: real Cisco Packet Tracer 9.0.1 view showing After reopening the saved project, the same lab-specific names, positions, and connection lines remain visible
    Step 6 · Cisco Packet Tracer; numbered callout added to a real capture. Enlarge screenshot (new tab)

Chapter checks

These questions refer to the chapter’s examples. Use the return links to review their answers.

  1. A farm has soil readings but workers keep the same irrigation schedule. What should the team establish to show operational value?

    Return to the chapter’s knowledge check
  2. The vineyard record schedules irrigation and requires flow confirmation. What follow-up would help expose a valve or installation fault?

    Return to the chapter’s knowledge check

Caution

The Humidity Monitor is an environmental proxy, not a calibrated volumetric soil-moisture probe. Packet Tracer does not validate crop thresholds, hydraulic pressure, valve sizing, or water rights.

Return to Smart Agriculture: Irrigation Systems and Evidence · Browse Labs