Lab 1: Build and Configure a Basic Cisco Network

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Lesson format9 sections1 code block1 practice itemUpdated Oct 2, 2026

bash

R1# configure terminal
R1(config)# hostname R1-HQ
R1-HQ(config)# ip domain-name corp.example.com
R1-HQ(config)# interface gigabitEthernet0/0
R1-HQ(config-if)# ip address 10.10.20.1 255.255.255.0
R1-HQ(config-if)# no shutdown
R1-HQ(config-if)# end
R1-HQ# write memory

The first lab of the course: build a small three-device network from scratch. One router, one switch, two hosts. Configure basic addressing on the router, VLAN 1 defaults on the switch, and verify end-to-end connectivity. This is the foundation everything else builds on.

#The Lab Topology#link

#Configuration Steps#link

Configure hostname and domain name on both R1 and SW1
Configure R1's Gi0/0 with IP 10.10.20.1/24, no shutdown
Configure SW1 with default VLAN 1 (hosts connect and get IPs statically)
Configure PC-A and PC-B with static IPs in 10.10.20.0/24
Verify from PC-A: ping 10.10.20.11 (PC-B) — should succeed
Verify from PC-A: ping 10.10.20.1 (router) — should succeed
Save configuration with `write memory` on router and switch
Back up configs via TFTP or SCP

Complete the lab in a virtual environment (GNS3, EVE-NG, Packet Tracer, or CML). Configure R1, SW1, and two hosts. Save the config. Run `show ip interface brief` on R1 to verify the interface is up/up. Run `show mac address-table` on SW1 to see the hosts learned.

★ 20 XPmedium

exercise BLOCK (★ 20 XP)

PC-A can ping PC-B but cannot ping the router's gateway IP. What should you check first?

Select your proof vectors above

callout

Lab 1 sets the baseline. By the end, you can build a small network, verify connectivity, save configs, and back them up. Every subsequent lab builds on this foundation. Next lab adds VLANs and trunks.

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Finish the lesson once you have worked through the material. This awards ★ 20 XP.

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The Lab Topology Configuration Steps

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October 2, 2026

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Fetch as Markdown (Accept header)

curl -H "Accept: text/markdown" "https://vulnarex.com/api/content/lessons?courseSlug=complete-ccna-200-301&lessonSlug=1-build-configure-basic-cisco-network&lang=en&format=markdown"

MCP Server Config (mcp.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vulnarex": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-fetch"],
      "env": { "MCP_FETCH_URL": "https://vulnarex.com" }
    }
  }
}

MCP Server Card/.well-known/mcp.json A2A Agent Card/.well-known/agent-card.json API Catalog/.well-known/api-catalog robots.txt/robots.txt

Laboratory sanity code

Isolate active probes on matched virtual networks and keep execution streams sandboxed.

R1# configure terminal

R1(config)# hostname R1-HQ

R1-HQ(config)# ip domain-name corp.example.com

R1-HQ(config)# interface gigabitEthernet0/0

R1-HQ(config-if)# ip address 10.10.20.1 255.255.255.0

R1-HQ(config-if)# no shutdown

R1-HQ(config-if)# end

R1-HQ# write memory