Practice like the CLI matters.

Basic Router Configuration

Configure hostname, interface IPs, and bring interfaces up on a fresh router.

Static Routing

Add static routes and a default route to build a complete routing table.

VLAN Configuration on a Switch

Create VLANs, name them, and assign switch ports to the correct VLANs.

Router-on-a-Stick

Configure 802.1Q subinterfaces for inter-VLAN routing on a single router port.

OSPF Single-Area

Configure OSPFv2, set the router-id, and advertise networks into area 0.

Device Security Hardening

Enable secret, local users, SSH v2, and VTY login-local on a new router.

Trunk Links and Native VLAN

Configure 802.1Q trunk ports and document uplinks with interface descriptions.

Loopback Interfaces & Serial WAN

Create loopback interfaces for stable router-ids and configure a serial WAN link.

Banner MOTD and Console Security

Configure a legal warning banner and secure the console port with a password.

Complete Router Setup Challenge

Capstone: hostname, interfaces, static routing, OSPF, and full device security from scratch.

Two-Router OSPF Adjacency

Configure OSPF between two routers over a serial link and establish area 0 adjacency.

VLAN Inter-op: Switch + Router-on-a-Stick

Configure VLANs on a switch, set trunk/access ports, then wire inter-VLAN routing on the router.

Three-Router Static Routing

Build a three-router chain using static routes — each router needs routes to all remote networks.

Multi-Device Security Hardening

Harden both a router and a switch: enable secrets, local users, SSH v2, VTY restrictions.