What do you need to pentest computer networks?

Question

Computer networks

Good day. Recently I have become interested in pentesting, computer network pentesting was of particular interest. I myself already confidently know the base of "Networks and Information Transmission Systems", at the moment I am reading Olifer's book "Computer Networks" for the most profound understanding of their structure.
I would like to know:
- what tools to study;
- how to simulate the operation of network equipment (for example, on a virtual machine, if possible);
- what other books regarding vulnerabilities in protocols or in equipment can be read;
I would be very grateful for advice from personal experience.
Many thanks in advance to all connoisseurs)

Answer 1

There is vmware - you can create a virtual machine on it and pentest it. There used to be free or trial versions.
ProxMox - free virtualization
Of the tools:
nmap, wireshark, xspider, snort - this is the minimum set.
Read the documentation for these programs, test Wirth. cars