From static routes to multi-protocol redistribution and enterprise BGP. Build, break and troubleshoot realistic routing topologies instead of memorizing commands.
Each lab increases the number of protocols, routing domains and failure modes. The final lab is designed as a practical enterprise troubleshooting assessment.
Build the routing fundamentals
Learn how packets move through a routed network using connected routes, static routes, default routes and path selection.
Design basic path resiliency
Build primary and backup paths using administrative distance, then prove failover by taking the primary link offline.
Connect two routing domains
Create separate OSPF and EIGRP domains and make their networks reachable through controlled two-way redistribution.
Troubleshoot a multi-domain network
Connect three different IGP environments and solve the routing problems created by multi-protocol redistribution.
Connect the enterprise to an ISP
Combine an internal OSPF network with external BGP to model a practical enterprise Internet edge.
Apply routing policy at the boundary
Use EIGRP internally and BGP externally, then introduce prefix filtering and route-map based policy control.
Capstone enterprise troubleshooting lab
Work an inherited acquisition network containing OSPF, RIP, EIGRP and BGP. Restore reachability without replacing the existing protocols.
Every lab should be completed as an engineering exercise: configure the topology, prove the expected behavior, introduce a controlled fault, then explain why the network behaves the way it does.
Build the topology and routing protocols from a clean starting point.
Use routing tables, neighbors, pings and traceroutes to prove the design.
Introduce a realistic failure: link, metric, route or redistribution fault.
Diagnose the root cause and document the fix like an enterprise engineer.
Learners are expected to explain what each command proves rather than simply run a checklist.
show ip route
show ip protocols
show ip ospf neighbor
show ip eigrp neighbors
show ip bgp summary
show ip bgp
ping / tracerouteAfter the seven labs, learners should be able to reason about route selection, protocol boundaries, redistribution, failover and enterprise BGP policy—and troubleshoot the network when the expected path disappears.