Don't just build the lab — find out if you passed it.
Graded daily Cisco CML labs for CCNA & CCNP.
Build today's lab on real Cisco IOS, upload your config, get pass/fail on every requirement in seconds.
How it worksThree steps to a graded lab
The whole loop, start to finish.
- 1 · DownloadToday's package: topology, objectives, diagram, starter config.
- 2 · Build it in CML
- 3 · Upload it
New to CML? See the full getting-started walkthrough →
Why pay when free labs exist?Side by side with the alternatives.
Free videos, Packet Tracer, and rolling your own in GNS3 or CML-free.
| What you get | Free videos + Packet Tracer | GNS3 / CML-free, DIY | Goldfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades YOUR own build | Only pre-authored labs | Nothing | Per-requirement pass/fail |
| Runs on real Cisco IOS | No — a simulator | Yes, if you build it | Yes — pre-built for you |
| Setup cost | Low | Hours — images, node caps, licensing | One click, free-tier images |
| A fresh problem to solve | A fixed set | Make your own | A new one every day |
| Troubleshooting built in | Mostly happy-path | Do-it-yourself | Real faults, every lab |
| Builds toward a cert | One-off videos | Your own plan to make | CCNA/CCNP bundles and study paths |
Readiness you can prove
Every lab you submit is graded line by line against a real configuration. That evidence is what moves your rank, your domain standing, and your medallions — nothing here is awarded for showing up.
Example profile
Member since 2026
Ring position is the weight of verified work in each domain. These rows show the rung you hold there, and how far to the next one.
- SwitchingProficient60%to MasterSwitching: Proficient, 60% toward Master.
- RoutingPractitioner24%to ProficientRouting: Practitioner, 24% toward Proficient.
- AddressingPractitioner12%to ProficientAddressing: Practitioner, 12% toward Proficient.
- SecurityDeveloping25%to PractitionerSecurity: Developing, 25% toward Practitioner.
- ServicesApprentice37%to DevelopingServices: Apprentice, 37% toward Developing.
Last 14 days — it counts even at max rank.
- 1AssessBuild a topology in CML, then upload the config you actually configured.
- 2PracticeWork the labs recommended from the protocols you are weakest in.
- 3ValidateGet a result per requirement — which lines passed, which did not.
- 4ImproveFix it and resubmit. Retries are free and your best score stands.
- 5MasterEach domain climbs a named ladder as your graded evidence builds.
- 6AdvanceRank up, earn the domain medallion, and get the next recommendation.
Practice tests measure what you remember. Goldfish measures what you can configure.
Never miss a daily lab
Create a free account to get an email each time a new daily lab goes live — the same account unlocks the download.
Create a free accountFrequently asked questions
What is Goldfish Networks?
Goldfish Networks publishes a fresh, import-ready Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) scenario every day. Each lab is built around a real configuration and troubleshooting objective and ships as a free-tier YAML package you import straight into CML.
Who are the labs for?
Network engineers keeping their skills sharp, and CCNA and CCNP candidates and students who want hands-on reps instead of multiple-choice drills.
Are the labs actually graded?
Yes — and not just an answer key to read. You upload your finished CML config and every requirement is checked pass/fail against the rubric, so you get objective feedback on your own build. The node-by-node solution reveals once you submit.
Do the labs run on real Cisco IOS?
Yes. Every lab is built for Cisco Modeling Labs on free-tier images (IOL, IOL-L2, IOSv) and imports in one click — real Cisco IOS, not a simulator.
What do I need to run these labs? Is CML free?
Just Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) on your own computer, on its free tier. Our labs ship as YAML built for the free-tier images, and a laptop with around 16 GB of RAM comfortably runs a small daily lab. The getting-started guide walks through the full setup.
How is this different from free labs and videos?
Goldfish grades your own work. You get a fresh problem daily, import it in one click on free-tier images, and every requirement is checked against the rubric once you upload — so you spend your time on the protocol rather than on hunting images and wiring.
What's the difference between the CCNA and CCNP labs?
Labs are tagged by track. CCNA labs build core configuration and troubleshooting fundamentals; CCNP labs go deeper into multi-area, multi-protocol, and break/fix scenarios. Study paths sequence them so daily practice builds toward the exam.
What does a daily lab include?
An import-ready topology with baseline configs, a clear objective and realistic troubleshooting tasks, a node-by-node guided solution, and deterministic grading against an answer key once you upload your CML export.
How is each lab created and reviewed?
Every lab is generated, automatically checked against quality and topology gates, and human-approved before it goes live — never a raw, untested draft.
How do bundles and study paths work?
Individual labs roll up into themed bundles and longer study paths aligned to CCNA and CCNP progression, so your daily practice builds toward a certification instead of being one-off exercises.
Study resources
Theory and drills, alongside the graded labs.
Ready to practice?
The first lab of every bundle is free with an account. A subscription unlocks the rest.