Routing practice labs — Page 2

CCNA Static Routing: Equal-Cost Load Sharing

Build a small HQ–WAN–Branch triangle with two independent WAN paths. Configure equal-cost static routes on both edge routers so traffic to the opposite site’s LAN installs with two next-hops and is load-shared by CEF. Verify end-to-end reachability from real hosts, observe per-flow load sharing on the routers, and compare behavior to a floating static of higher administrative distance.

OSPF Cost & Path Selection: Deterministic Control (3 Routers)

Build 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.

OSPF Inter-Area Summarization with ABR Area Range

Build 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.

OSPF MD5 Authentication: Backbone Integrity and Area Mismatch

Deploy 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.

OSPF Multi-Area: ABR Area Mismatch and Route Repair

Build 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.

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: 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 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.

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.

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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