How To Fix Cisco Packet Tracer 7.1 Not Starting Issue on Ubuntu

In this guide, we will provide detailed instructions on how to fix the issue of Cisco Packet Tracer 7.1 not starting on Ubuntu. This issue is commonly caused by missing libraries required by the Packet Tracer application. We will cover three potential solutions, which involve navigating through the terminal, identifying and installing missing libraries, and updating the library path.

Solution 1: Install Missing Libraries

The first step is to identify the missing libraries. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where Packet Tracer is installed using the command:

cd /opt/pt/bin

Next, attempt to run Packet Tracer using the command:

./PacketTracer7

If Packet Tracer fails to run, the terminal will display a list of missing “libqt5xxx” libraries. These libraries are essential for the functioning of the Packet Tracer application. Install them all using the command:

sudo apt install libqt5xxx*

Note: Replace “xxx” with the specific library name mentioned in the error message.

Solution 2: Copy Missing Libraries

If the first solution doesn’t resolve the issue, you can manually copy the missing libraries to the appropriate directory. Check the libraries required by Packet Tracer using the command:

ldd Packettracer7

This command lists the shared libraries required by the Packet Tracer application. If a library is missing, it will be indicated in the output.

Next, copy the missing library to the appropriate directory using the command:

sudo cp /opt/pt/lib/libname /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu

Note: Replace “libname” with the specific library name mentioned in the error message.

Solution 3: Install Older Version of Required Library

In some cases, Packet Tracer may require an older version of a library that is not available in the current Ubuntu repositories. In this case, you can manually download and install the required version of the library.

First, download the older version of the required library using the command:

wget http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/i/icu/libicu52_52.1-3ubuntu0.7_amd64.deb

Next, install the downloaded package using the command:

sudo dpkg -i libicu52_52.1-3ubuntu0.7_amd64.deb

Finally, update the library path using the command:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/pt/lib /opt/pt/bin/PacketTracer7

This command sets the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable to the directory containing the Packet Tracer libraries, allowing the system to locate these libraries when running the Packet Tracer application.

Conclusion

If none of the above solutions work, you can try uninstalling the current installation and installing Packet Tracer from a different source, such as the apt repositories. Remember to always keep your system and applications updated to avoid such issues in the future. We hope this guide was helpful in resolving your issue with Cisco Packet Tracer 7.1 not starting on Ubuntu.