CCNA & CCNP practice labs — hands-on Cisco CML scenarios

OSPFv2 Multi-Area with ABR Summarization (Redundant Core)

Deploy a 5-node OSPFv2 lab featuring a redundant area 0 triangle (R1–R2–R3) and an ABR (R3) connecting to area 1 with branch networks on R4. A client on R1’s area 0 LAN validates reachability to branch loopback networks summarized by the ABR. You will set explicit router-ids from Loopback0, use passive-interface default, advertise R4’s loopbacks as /24s using ip ospf network point-to-point, and summarize area 1 into a /23 on the ABR. Verify FULL adjacencies, a single O IA summary on R1, and end-to-end connectivity. Troubleshoot an introduced area mismatch and interface/addressing issues.

CCNA & CCNP80 min7 objectives

CCNA Static Routing: Redundant Branch Triangle

Build a 3-router triangle with two branch LANs and real Alpine clients. Deploy primary static routes via the hub and floating backup statics over a direct branch-to-branch link. Verify reachability, path selection, and failover by simulating a hub outage.

CCNA65 min5 objectives

Port Security: Static Secure MAC Binding

Troubleshoot a Layer-2 forwarding fault that breaks a user VLAN between access/distribution switches, then implement static secure MAC binding on the client-facing access port. You will restore end-to-end VLAN 20 reachability and enforce a single authorized MAC on the user port using port-security with violation restrict.

CCNA55 min5 objectives

Port Security: Violation Shutdown & Manual Recovery

Hands-on CCNA L2 switching lab: build a small campus with a distribution switch and two access switches carrying a shared user VLAN over 802.1Q trunks. Harden access ports with sticky port-security in violation shutdown mode. Intentionally seed and diagnose broken trunks/host VLANs, restore end-to-end host reachability, then trigger a port-security violation to observe err-disabled behavior and perform manual recovery.

CCNA65 min5 objectives

Trunking Basics: Access Ports vs Trunk Ports

Hands-on CCNA switching lab contrasting single-VLAN access ports with 802.1Q trunks. You begin with the inter-switch link configured as a plain access port, so only one VLAN reaches the router-on-a-stick gateway while the other cannot. You will diagnose the connectivity problem, convert the link into a properly hardened 802.1Q trunk, and validate that both VLANs regain access to their gateway.

CCNA55 min5 objectives

Native VLAN Mismatch: Diagnosing a Broken Trunk with CDP

Diagnose and remediate a trunk misconfiguration between an access switch and a distribution switch so that same-VLAN hosts across two access switches can communicate end-to-end. Use CDP and trunk verification commands to investigate the fault and restore proper trunk operation, without introducing any Layer-3 routing.

CCNA45 min5 objectives

Default Routes & the Gateway of Last Resort

Build a small hub-and-branch network to master default static routes and the gateway of last resort. Each branch uses a default route toward the hub; the hub holds specific routes back to branch LANs. Verify routing tables and end-to-end host connectivity, then troubleshoot common misconfigurations.

CCNA55 min5 objectives

Static Routing Between Branches Through an HQ Hop

Deploy IP addressing and bidirectional static routing across a three-router topology to connect two branch LANs through an HQ hop. Practice verification from end hosts, analyze routing tables, and troubleshoot asymmetric reachability.

CCNA45 min5 objectives

IPv4 Addressing Fundamentals: Interfaces, Gateways & Reachability

Beginner CCNA lab focusing on IPv4 addressing and basic Layer 3 verification on a small branch network. You will assign IP addresses to router interfaces, confirm end-host default gateways, and verify connected reachability using host-based pings. You will also learn to read 'show ip interface brief' and 'show ip route' to confirm operational state before any routing beyond directly-connected networks is configured.

CCNA50 min5 objectives

Branch Layer 2 Capstone: Build, Verify & Fix VLANs and Trunks

Advanced Layer-2 capstone, run as a fault hunt. A branch was cut over last night: one user VLAN has no gateway, another user sits in the wrong subnet, the management VLAN is unreachable from the distribution switch, and a port that should lock to one MAC no longer does. Nothing was recorded. You get symptoms and the required end state — no fault list. Faults span the router and both switches, and more than one of them presents as 'the trunk is broken'.

CCNA75 min5 objectives

Troubleshoot a Branch ROAS: VLANs, Trunks & Port Security

Deploy and troubleshoot VLANs, 802.1Q trunks, and port security in a realistic small-branch ROAS design. You will stand up VLANs 10/20/99 with a hardened trunk native VLAN 999, configure sticky port security on access ports, correct a misassigned VLAN, and resolve an err-disabled port caused by a port security violation. Finish by verifying end-to-end host connectivity across VLANs.

CCNA55 min5 objectives

Standard ACL: Permit Host & Subnet, Deny Others

Beginner CCNA ACL lab on a compact 5-node CML-Free topology. You will configure static routing end-to-end, implement source NAT (PAT) at the source edge, and then build a standard numbered ACL near the destination to allow a single NATed host and a specific subnet while denying all others. You will validate with pings from end hosts, observe ACL hit counters and NAT translations, and troubleshoot common mistakes such as ACL placement, wildcard masks, and pre-/post-NAT address matching.

CCNA55 min7 objectives

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