Cisco CML lab archive — every past daily CCNA & CCNP lab

CCNA Foundations Series: Layer 2 Day 4

Hands-on CCNA Layer 2 switching lab: build VLANs, access ports, hardened 802.1Q trunks, and basic port-security across two access switches and an L2 core. Verify segmentation end-to-end from real hosts and practice troubleshooting native-VLAN and port/VLAN mismatches.

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OSPFv2 Single-Area Fundamentals: Adjacency and Area 0 Basics

Hands-on CCNA beginner lab: build a 3-router chain with end hosts, enable OSPFv2 area 0, form full adjacencies, advertise loopbacks and LANs, verify route propagation end-to-end, and intentionally create then resolve an OSPF area mismatch on a transit segment.

CCNA: OSPF Passive Interfaces & Default Origination

Deploy OSPFv2 across a 3-router, 2-LAN branch/core/edge topology. Mark LAN-facing interfaces as passive so they do not send OSPF hellos or form adjacencies. Originate a default route only from the edge router and verify default propagation end-to-end using real client traffic. Includes realistic troubleshooting around missing adjacencies, non-propagating defaults, and unreachable external destinations.

OSPFv2: Router IDs, Neighbor States, and Loopback Adjacency

Deploy OSPFv2 across three routers with unique, loopback-derived router-ids. Observe OSPF neighbor state transitions, advertise loopbacks and LANs, and troubleshoot an adjacency failure caused by a duplicate router-id. Validate full end-to-end reachability from client hosts after fixing the issue.

OSPFv2 Multi-Area Capstone: 3-Rtr Line, Auth, LAN Host Intact

Advanced CCNP OSPFv2 multi-area capstone. Build a three-router line topology with area 10 at the branch, area 0 at the core, and MD5 authentication on the area 0 transit. Advertise all loopbacks and a branch user LAN. Validate end-to-end reachability from the branch host to every router loopback and the core LAN. Includes realistic enterprise management and verification flows.

CCNA Day 3: VLANs, Trunking, and Layer 2 Security

Hands-on CCNA lab: build VLANs for Sales and Engineering, implement 802.1Q trunks with a hardened native VLAN, assign access ports, and apply sticky MAC port-security on access interfaces. The design uses a compact, realistic branch topology with a router-on-a-stick gateway, a distribution L2 switch, one access L2 switch, and two end hosts. Students deploy, verify, and troubleshoot VLAN reachability, trunk integrity, and port-security violations.

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CCNA Day 2: VLANs and Port Security

Configure a compact branch LAN with router-on-a-stick inter-VLAN routing, two access switches, and two user VLANs. Implement VLANs, 802.1Q trunks with a hardened native VLAN, secure user-facing ports with port-security, and verify end-to-end reachability from the hosts. Includes realistic troubleshooting of VLAN assignment, trunk allow-lists, and port-security violations.

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CCNA Foundations Day 1: VLAN and Port Security

Build and harden a small branch campus Layer 2 network with a distribution switch and two access switches. Implement VLANs, trunking, and basic port security, then verify from the end hosts and troubleshoot common L2 mistakes.

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CCNP: OSPF Backbone & Area Mismatch Recovery

Advanced multi-area OSPF lab with a realistic two-site design and a WAN ABR. You will deploy OSPF with a backbone (area 0) and a non-backbone area, intentionally create an area mismatch on one transit link to observe the failure, then correct it to restore full reachability. The final build demonstrates solid OSPF hygiene and SSH-only management.

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