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Practice Labs

Step-by-step Cisco CLI labs

Hands-On Labs

Each lab provides step-by-step instructions with exact commands and expected output. Work through them in order or jump to the topic you are studying. Use Cisco Packet Tracer or a DevNet Sandbox to practice with real devices.

Start Here· Beginner Foundations
Lab 01BeginnerInteractive

Network Foundations and Device Roles

Analyze a small office network topology. Identify device roles, distinguish LAN from WAN, and trace how packets travel from a laptop to a web server.

15–20 min 10 Questions
MCTopologySequencingOutputTroubleshoot
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Lab 02BeginnerInteractive

Models, Layers, and Packet Journey

Explore the OSI and TCP/IP models, identify PDUs at each layer, trace a packet from Host A to Host B, and type your first CLI commands.

20–25 min 12 Questions
MCSequencingCLI InputOutputTroubleshoot
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Lab 03BeginnerInteractive

Ethernet, Frames, and MAC Addressing

Explore how Ethernet frames are built, how switches use MAC address tables, and how unicast, broadcast, and multicast traffic behave in a LAN.

20–25 min 15 Questions
MCFrame MappingCLI InputOutputTopology
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Lab 04Beginner–IntermediateInteractive

Switching Logic, MAC Tables, and ARP

Trace how switches learn MAC addresses, make forwarding decisions, and how ARP enables communication within a LAN — with live flooding and CAM table visualization.

25–30 min 15 Questions
MCTopologySequencingCLI InputTroubleshoot
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Lab 05IntermediateInteractive

IPv4 Addressing and Network Fundamentals

Master IPv4 structure, subnet masks, CIDR notation, binary conversion, and special addresses — including APIPA, loopback, and public vs private IP ranges.

30–35 min 18 Questions
MCBinaryTopologyCLI InputTroubleshoot
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Lab 06Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

Subnetting, Packet Flow, and Troubleshooting

Apply subnetting to real scenarios — identify subnet boundaries, trace packet flow between subnets, and troubleshoot connectivity issues using ping and structured analysis.

35–45 min 15 Questions
MCSubnettingTopologyCLI InputTroubleshoot
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Lab 07Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

Routing Fundamentals and Path Decisions

Understand how routers forward packets using routing tables, connected and local routes, longest prefix match, and how MAC addresses change at each hop.

30–40 min 15 Questions
MCRouting TableTopologyCLI InputSequencing
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Lab 08IntermediateInteractive

Static Routing and Default Routes

Configure static routes and default routes on Cisco routers, interpret routing tables, understand administrative distance, and troubleshoot missing connectivity across two routers.

35–45 min 12 Questions
CLI ConfigRouting TableSequencingTroubleshootOutput
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Lab 09IntermediateInteractive

VLAN Fundamentals and Port Roles

Configure VLANs on a dual-switch network, assign access ports to Engineering and Sales VLANs, set up trunk links, and troubleshoot VLAN isolation and broadcast domain behavior.

30–40 min 14 Questions
CLI ConfigVLAN TableTopologyTroubleshootOutput
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Lab 10Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

Trunking and Inter-VLAN Routing

Configure 802.1Q trunk ports, implement Router-on-a-Stick with subinterfaces, assign VLAN gateways, analyze inter-VLAN packet flow, and create SVIs on a Layer 3 switch.

40–50 min 15 Questions
CLI ConfigRouter-on-a-StickTopologyTroubleshootConceptual
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Lab 11Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

STP Foundations and EtherChannel

Analyze how STP prevents Layer 2 loops, trace root bridge election, identify port roles, understand RSTP improvements, and differentiate LACP vs PAgP for link aggregation.

40–50 min 15 Questions
MCTopologySequencingCLI InputTroubleshoot
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Lab 12Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

OSPF Fundamentals

Explore OSPF link-state routing, Hello packets and adjacency states, Dijkstra SPF algorithm, cost metric, and troubleshoot neighbor relationships using CLI output.

40–50 min 15 Questions
MCTopologyCLI InputOutputConceptual
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Lab 13IntermediateInteractive

IPv6 Addressing and Neighbor Discovery

Master IPv6 128-bit hex addressing, shortening rules, global unicast vs link-local vs multicast types, SLAAC with RS/RA, and how NDP replaces ARP.

35–45 min 15 Questions
MCTopologyCLI InputConceptualTroubleshoot
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Lab 14IntermediateInteractive

DHCP, DNS, and NAT

Trace the DHCP DORA process, understand DNS A and AAAA records, analyze NAT translation tables, and troubleshoot APIPA addressing and internet connectivity failures.

40–50 min 15 Questions
MCSequencingTopologyCLI InputTroubleshoot
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Lab 15IntermediateInteractive

NTP, Syslog, SNMP, CDP, and LLDP

Understand NTP stratum levels, Syslog severity 0–7, SNMP polling vs traps, MIB structure, and how CDP and LLDP reveal directly connected neighbor information.

40–50 min 14 Questions
MCTopologyCLI InputConceptualOutput
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Lab 16Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

ACL Fundamentals

Configure Standard and Extended ACLs, apply wildcard masks, understand top-down processing and implicit deny, place ACLs correctly, and troubleshoot common misconfigurations.

40–50 min 15 Questions
MCCLI InputTopologyTroubleshootSequencing
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Lab 17Intermediate–AdvancedInteractive

Port Security and Wireless Basics

Configure Port Security with sticky MAC learning and violation modes, understand err-disabled recovery, and identify wireless architecture components including APs, WLCs, CAPWAP, and wireless security protocols.

40–50 min 15 Questions
MCCLI InputTroubleshootConceptual
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Lab 18IntermediateInteractive

Network Automation and Programmability

Understand network automation benefits, identify JSON/XML/YAML data formats, interpret API responses, apply REST HTTP methods, trace client-server API flow, and compare Ansible, Puppet, and Chef.

35–45 min 15 Questions
MCTopologySequencingConceptual
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Lab 19AdvancedInteractive

Mixed Network Troubleshooting Challenge

Diagnose simultaneous Layer 2–7 failures across VLANs, routing, OSPF, DHCP, DNS, NAT, and ACLs in a realistic branch office network scenario.

50–60 min 20 Questions
TroubleshootOutput AnalysisCLI InputMCSequencing
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Lab 20 · FinalAdvanced

Final CCNA Practical Review

End-to-end practical review covering core CCNA concepts — VLANs, routing, OSPF, DHCP, DNS, NAT, ACLs, port security, and wireless. A great companion for your exam prep.

60–75 min 20 Questions
TroubleshootOutput AnalysisCLI InputSequencingConceptual
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