CCNA Certification (200-301) Packet Tracer LAB & Config!!

For students preparing for the CCNA (200-301) exam, a Packet Tracer lab should cover the key topics in the exam blueprint, allowing them to practice various networking concepts and configurations. A comprehensive lab should include the following key areas:

1. Basic Network Device Configuration

– Router and Switch Initial Configuration:

– Basic device setup including hostname, IP addressing, and banner message.

– Passwords for console, VTY lines, and privileged EXEC mode.

– Assigning IP addresses to interfaces and enabling them.

– Network Addressing:

– Configuring IPv4 and IPv6 addresses on different devices.

– Implementing subnetting (IPv4) and subnet planning.

– Device management:

– Configuring SSH and Telnet for remote access.

– Using Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) or TFTP for backing up configurations.

2. LAN Switching Configuration

– VLAN Configuration:

– Creating VLANs and assigning switchports to VLANs.

– Configuring trunking between switches (802.1Q encapsulation).

– Inter-VLAN routing using a router-on-a-stick or a Layer 3 switch.

– Spanning Tree Protocol (STP):

– Configuring and verifying STP and its variants (PVST, RSTP).

– Setting the root bridge priority.

– Port Security:

– Configuring port security to restrict MAC addresses on switchports.

– Violation modes (protect, restrict, shutdown).

– EtherChannel Configuration:

– Setting up EtherChannel for link aggregation using PAgP or LACP.

3. Routing Configuration

– Static Routing:

– Configuring and verifying static routes, including default routes.

– Dynamic Routing:

– Implementing RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP for IPv4 and IPv6.

– Configuring single-area and multi-area OSPF.

– Configuring router redistribution between routing protocols.

– First-Hop Redundancy Protocols (FHRP):

– Implementing HSRP or VRRP for gateway redundancy.

4. WAN Configuration

– Configuring Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP):

– Using PPP and PPPoE on WAN links.

– GRE Tunnel Configuration:

– Setting up a basic GRE tunnel for site-to-site communication.

– Network Address Translation (NAT):

– Configuring static NAT, dynamic NAT, and Port Address Translation (PAT).

5. Security Features

– Access Control Lists (ACLs):

– Configuring standard and extended ACLs for traffic filtering.

– Applying ACLs to interfaces to control access to resources.

– VPN Configuration:

– Configuring basic site-to-site VPN (IPsec) settings.

– DHCP Snooping and Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI):

– Configuring switch features to protect against DHCP and ARP spoofing.

6. Network Automation and Programmability (Basic)

– Basic Device Automation using CLI:

– Scripting basic configurations using TCL scripts.

– Introduction to APIs:

– Using REST API calls for network management tasks (optional).

7. Wireless Configuration

– Configuring a Wireless Router:

– Basic SSID setup, wireless security settings (WPA2/3).

– Configuring a WLAN Controller (if supported):

– Setting up wireless access points via the controller interface.

Suggested Lab Topologies

– Simple Branch Office Network: A small network with routers, switches, and end devices to practice basic configurations.

– Campus Network: Includes multiple VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, redundancy, and access controls.

– WAN Connectivity Lab: Simulates connections between branch offices with different WAN technologies (PPP, GRE, NAT).

– Data Center Topology: Includes EtherChannel, STP, and basic server configurations for a small-scale data center simulation.

These labs will help students practice the concepts that are important for the CCNA certification and understand how different networking components integrate with each other.