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 →
Browse CCNA labs, CCNP labs or Cisco CML labs.
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 | Break/fix labs with real faults |
| Builds toward a cert | One-off videos | Your own plan to make | CCNA path, CCNA & CCNP bundles |
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.
- 1AssessBuild a topology in CML, then upload the config you actually configured.
- 2PracticeWork the recommended labs — closest to mastery first.
- 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.
From members who graded their own configs.
A Fantastic Resource and Competent Owner
Goldfish networks has been excellent! I recently just acquired a position in networking as an engineer with an insanely short turnaround and most of my applied and practical knowledge came from these lessons. I was able to make a complete career change from bartending and marketing to Network Engineering and have never been happier. The owner Alec is incredibly helpful and actually reached out personally to answer any questions I had and also provided a wealth of recommendations to assist me in getting my position. He also provides very timely feedback and adjustments to his courses and lessons if you report any grammatical errors, or continuity errors in the grading in regards to developing his lessons. This is the perfect use and consolidation of AI to improve your learning and develop tools managed by a competent manager who also provides his personal feedback to shore up any gaps in knowledge.
From Networking Theory to a Troubleshooting Mindset
People always recommend building your own labs, breaking them, and then fixing them to learn networking. The problem is that when you break your own lab, you already know what is wrong. Having professionally built, broken networks to troubleshoot forces you to investigate the symptoms without knowing the answer. That helped me move beyond simply memorizing theory and develop a real troubleshooting mindset. I loved that each Goldfish Networks category offered up to 10 labs with different scenarios and difficulty levels. Networking theory does not always fully click until you apply it, and these labs helped me connect the dots. I genuinely believe they helped me pass the CCNA. Some of the wording challenged me too—I had never heard the word “deterministic” before and had to Google it 😂—but that became part of the learning experience. Even after passing 86 graded labs and earning my CCNA, I’m still using the platform to keep my skills sharp while pursuing my first IT role. I also love the gamified experience of earning scores, identifying weaker areas, and improving over time. As a gamer, it makes you want to keep practicing and level up.
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?
Hands-on Cisco networking practice labs for CCNA and CCNP. A fresh Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) lab publishes every day; you build it on real Cisco IOS, upload your config, and every failed check comes back named.
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, Alpine) 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.
Study Hub →
The CCNA roadmap, topic by topic.
How-to Guides →
CML and Cisco IOS walkthroughs.
Concepts Explained →
Plain-English “what is X” and X-vs-Y.
Free Tools →
Subnet & VLSM calculators, ports reference.
Cheat Sheets →
Command references to keep open.
Study by topic: Subnetting · Static Routing · OSPF · EIGRP · BGP · VLANs & Trunking · Spanning Tree · EtherChannel · ACLs · NAT & PAT · DHCP · HSRP & VRRP · Device Security & SSH · Network Services
Ready to practice?
The first lab of every bundle is free with an account. A subscription unlocks the rest.