Ten hands-on EtherChannel labs — LACP/PAgP/static bundles, layer-2 and layer-3 port-channels, load balancing, and bundle troubleshooting — on CML free-tier (5 nodes or fewer).
Beginner CCNA lab that builds a static Layer-2 EtherChannel (mode on) between two ioll2-xe switches using two parallel links as members of Port-channel1. The Port-channel is configured as an access port in VLAN 10 so that two hosts, one on each switch, can communicate without spanning-tree blocking a parallel path. Learners deploy and verify the bundle, then validate end-to-end host connectivity.
View lab detailsBuild a two-link LACP EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2 using an active/passive pairing. The logical Port-channel2 carries VLAN 20 as an access link so two hosts on opposite switches can communicate. Verify with show etherchannel summary, show lacp neighbor, and host-to-host pings.
View lab detailsBuild a Layer-2 PAgP EtherChannel between two ioll2-xe switches (SW1 and SW2) using a desirable/auto pairing on two parallel links. Bundle Ethernet0/0 and Ethernet0/1 into Port-channel 3, make the port-channel a VLAN 30 access interface on both switches, and verify with show etherchannel summary, show pagp neighbor, show pagp counters, and end-to-end host pings in VLAN 30.
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10 hands-on, auto-graded CCNA & CCNP labs spanning 24 topics — each one a real Cisco Modeling Labs scenario you build on Cisco IOS. It's a one-time $29.99 and every lab is yours to keep forever.
A one-time purchase — $29.99. Buy once and own every lab in the bundle permanently; it's separate from the daily-lab subscription, so there's nothing recurring.
Yes — each lab is a Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) topology you import and build on real Cisco IOS, and the CML free tier is enough. You download the topology and lab guide, then build it yourself.
Every lab ships as a problem to solve. You build it in CML, then submit your config to grade it against the answer key — you get a pass/fail on each objective, so you know exactly what's right and what to fix instead of guessing.
CCNA & CCNP. The labs are sequenced to build the hands-on configuration and troubleshooting skills CCNA & CCNP candidates are expected to demonstrate on real gear.
Build a two-link LACP EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2 and convert the Port-channel into an 802.1Q trunk that explicitly carries VLANs 40 and 41. Validate end-to-end host reachability across VLAN 40 and confirm the trunk’s allowed VLAN list and switchport mode on the logical port-channel. Emphasis: deterministic EtherChannel configuration on member interfaces, correct trunking on the Port-channel, and verification with IOS show commands.
View lab detailsBuild a Layer-3 EtherChannel between two IOS XE routers using LACP active/active. Two parallel router links are bundled into Port-channel5, which carries a /30 transit. R2 hosts a loopback; R1 installs a static route to reach it. Validate that the Port-channel holds the IP (members do not), that the bundle is up and uses both links, and that pings across the /30 and to the loopback succeed. Emphasis: deterministic EtherChannel configuration and Layer-3 port-channel practices.
View lab detailsBuild a two-link LACP EtherChannel between two layer-2 switches as an access port for VLAN 60, then tune the global load-balancing algorithm to src-dst-ip so traffic distributes more evenly. Verify Po6 status, the hashing method, and end-to-end host reachability.
View lab detailsBuild an LACP Layer-2 EtherChannel between SW1 and SW2 so Rapid-PVST+ treats two parallel links as one logical Port-channel 7. Without EtherChannel, STP will block one of the two access links. With LACP active on both members and Port-channel 7 as an access port in VLAN 70, STP shows a single forwarding interface (Po7) and both physical links forward as one logical channel. Two hosts in VLAN 70 verify end-to-end connectivity.
View lab detailsBuild a routed LACP EtherChannel (Port-channel 8) between two iol-xe routers and route real inter-LAN traffic using static routes. Two parallel physical links (Ethernet0/0 and Ethernet0/1) on each router are bundled into a single Layer-3 Port-channel with a /30 transit. Each router serves a local /24 LAN with an alpine host. Validate that Po8 is up/up, static routes are present, and end-to-end host pings succeed across the aggregated uplink.
View lab detailsAdvanced CCNP troubleshooting lab: a pair of Layer-2 switches are connected by a two-link EtherChannel intended to carry VLAN 90 between access hosts. The starter configuration ships broken on purpose: the inter-switch bundle won’t form due to incompatible aggregation modes, and a trunk allow-list drift on one side prunes VLAN 90. Diagnose with IOS show commands, correct the EtherChannel mode so LACP forms the Port-channel, and restore trunk policy so same-VLAN hosts can communicate.
View lab detailsAdvanced CCNP EtherChannel troubleshooting capstone on Cisco IOS L2 switches. Two ioll2-xe switches are joined by two parallel links intended to bundle as one LACP Port-channel. The lab ships pre-broken with two independent faults on SW1: the parallel links are placed into different channel-groups and their switchport L2 parameters are inconsistent. Learners must use show commands to diagnose, then correct both faults so Port-channel 100 bundles both members as an access link for VLAN 100, restoring host-to-host reachability.
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