Progressive hands-on OSPFv2 labs — from a first single-area adjacency through DR/BDR election, multi-area design, route summarization, stub areas, authentication, and a troubleshooting capstone. Every lab runs on CML free-tier (5 nodes or fewer).
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.
View lab detailsDeploy 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.
View lab detailsBuild a 3-router triangle with two end-to-end paths between Branch A and the Data Center. Stand up OSPF area 0, create an ECMP condition, then intentionally steer traffic using ip ospf cost. Verify from the end hosts and troubleshoot common OSPF control-plane mismatches.
New here? Start with the free study hub and step-by-step guides, then own the bundle to practice on real Cisco IOS.
11 hands-on, auto-graded CCNA & CCNP labs spanning 28 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.
Hands-on CCNP OSPF lab comparing broadcast and point-to-point network types. Three routers share a multi-access Ethernet via an access switch to observe DR/BDR election, manipulate interface priorities, and then convert to point-to-point. Includes a user LAN behind R1 and realistic troubleshooting: neighbor stuck in 2-Way due to type mismatch, area mismatch isolating a router, and incorrect interface priority preventing desired DR/BDR roles.
View lab detailsDeploy 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.
View lab detailsBuild and troubleshoot a compact multi-area OSPF design with a single ABR between area 0 and area 10. You will deploy OSPF, observe an adjacency failure caused by an area mismatch on one transit link, repair it, and validate that routes propagate end to end between two user LANs.
View lab detailsBuild a 5-node CML lab to design OSPFv2 across two areas with an ABR that summarizes non-backbone routes using area range. Validate adjacencies, end-to-end reachability, and that the backbone learns a single summary in place of specific inter-area routes. Intentionally introduce an area mismatch, diagnose why the adjacency does not form, and repair it.
View lab detailsDeploy a compact enterprise multi-area OSPF with a backbone (area 0) and one branch area (area 10). You will configure area 10 as a stub, then transition it to a totally-stubby area from the ABR, validate reduced LSDB and routing tables, and simulate an operational fault (area mismatch) to diagnose adjacency loss and restore full transit. The lab uses three routers and two hosts to verify end-to-end reachability and real-world outcomes.
View lab detailsDeploy OSPFv2 with MD5 authentication on backbone links, deliberately trigger and diagnose an area mismatch adjacency failure, then fix it and restore end-to-end reachability between two branch hosts in a compact three-router topology.
View lab detailsDeploy 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.
View lab detailsAdvanced 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.
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