What I would do in your boat:
- Online services? $$$ and also javascript, most likely non-free.
- Real Cisco equipment? Besides the money, is it required, or just
recommended for the course?
- Run Packet Tracer on Wine: sounds like an option, though I'd add some
Apparmor and Firejail to Wine.
- Run GNS3 an then use Cisco firmwares: why not. Dual boot is a possiblity.
Also using another machine (an old one you don't use, a cheap one you can
buy). I guess you won't be needing a monster CPU or RAM capacity.
So I would probably use another dedicated machine, just for that. If that's
not possible, I'd dual boot. Else, Wine, but I'd rather keep my personal
stuff as separated as possible from that Cisco stuff.
