If you are preparing for Cisco CCNA exam, learning theory alone is not enough. Packet Tracer labs help you practice real networking scenarios, improve troubleshooting skills, and understand how Cisco networks actually work. In this post we will focus top 3 important packet tracer labs for CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). We will configure Cisco routers and switches for 3 important CCNA Lessons.
Table of Contents
Why These Packet Tracer Labs Are Important?
Packet Tracer labs are one of the most effective ways to prepare for the CCNA exam because they help students move beyond theory and practice real networking skills. By working with switching, routing, VLANs, OSPF, STP and troubleshooting scenarios, learners can understand how Cisco networks operate in real environments. These CCNA Packet Tracer labs also improve problem-solving skills, hands on experience on Cisco configurations and troubleshooting capabilities, which are essential skills for both the certification exam and real-world networking jobs.
VLAN and Inter-VLAN Routing Lab
VLAN and Inter-VLAN Routing configurations are among the most important topics in the CCNA certification. In this Packet Tracer lab, students learn how to separate networks into different VLANs, configure trunk links between switches and enable communication between VLANs using Router-on-a-Stick. These CCNA Packet Tracer labs also improve problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities, which are essential skills for both the certification exam and real-world networking jobs.
For our first packet tracer lab, we will use the below topology.
Router on Stick Topology
Creating VLANs
In the first step of our packet tracer VLAN configuration example will creating VLANs. Here, we will create VLAN 2, 3 and 4. Then, we will enter the interface range and configure the interface range as access interface. Lastly, we will assign the interface to a specific VLAN with “switchport access vlan” command.
Switch (config) # vlan 2
Switch (config-vlan) # vlan 3
Switch (config-vlan) # vlan 4
Switch (config-vlan) # exit
Switch (config) # interface range fastEthernet 0/2-3
Switch (config-if-range) # switchport mode access
Switch (config-if-range) # switchport access vlan 2
Switch (config-if-range) # exit
Switch (config) # interface range fastEthernet 0/4-5
Switch (config-if-range) # switchport mode access
Switch (config-if-range) # switchport access vlan 3
Switch (config-if-range) # exit
Switch (config) # interface range fastEthernet 0/6-7
Switch (config-if-range) # switchport mode access
Switch (config-if-range) # switchport access vlan 4
Switch (config-if-range) # exit
We have configured VLANs and associated ports. Now it is time to verify our VLANs.
Switch# show vlan
VLAN Name Status Ports
---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------
1 default active Fa0/8, Fa0/9, Fa0/10, Fa0/11
Fa0/12, Fa0/13, Fa0/14, Fa0/15
Fa0/16, Fa0/17, Fa0/18, Fa0/19
Fa0/20, Fa0/21, Fa0/22, Fa0/23
Fa0/24, Gig0/1, Gig0/2
2 VLAN0002 active Fa0/2, Fa0/3
3 VLAN0003 active Fa0/4, Fa0/5
4 VLAN0004 active Fa0/6, Fa0/7
1002 fddi-default act/unsup
1003 token-ring-default act/unsup
1004 fddinet-default act/unsup
1005 trnet-default act/unsup
AN Type SAID MTU Parent RingNo BridgeNo Stp BrdgMode Trans1 Trans2
---- ----- ---------- ----- ------ ------ -------- ---- -------- ------ ------
1 enet 100001 1500 - - - - - 0 0
2 enet 100002 1500 - - - - - 0 0
3 enet 100003 1500 - - - - - 0 0
4 enet 100004 1500 - - - - - 0 0
Configuring Trunk Ports
After creating VLANs and port VLAN associations, now, we will set trunk port. To do this, we will use “switchport mode trunk” command under the trunk interface.
Switch (config) # interface fastEthernet 0/1
Switch (config-if) # switchport mode trunk
Switch (config-if) # switchport trunk allowed vlan 2,3,4
Switch (config-if) # exit
Router-on-a-Stick Configuration
Now, it is time to configure the most imporant part of this configuration. Wİth this configuratiın, we will set the configuration between VLANs. This is Router on a Stick configuration step of this configuration example. To do this, firstly we will open the physical interface that will works as trunk between the switch and the router. We will do this with “no shutdown” command.
Router (config) # interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router (config-if) # no shutdown
Router (config-if) # exit
After that, under the physicalinterface, we will create sub interfaces. Under each sub interaface, we will set the encapsulation type, allowed vlans on this trunk and the logical ip address with subnet mask.
Router (config) # interface fastEthernet 0/0.2
Router (config-if) # encapsulation dot1q 2
Router (config-if) # switchport trunk allowed vlan 2,3,4
Router (config-if) # ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
Router (config-if) # no shutdown
Router (config-if) # exit
Router (config) # interface fastEthernet 0/0.3
Router (config-if) # encapsulation dot1q 3
Router (config-if) # switchport trunk allowed vlan 2,3,4
Router (config-if) # ip address 20.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
Router (config-if) # no shutdown
Router (config-if) # exit
Router (config) # interface fastEthernet 0/0.4
Router (config-if) # encapsulation dot1q 4
Router (config-if) # switchport trunk allowed vlan 2,3,4
Router (config-if) # ip address 30.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
Router (config-if) # no shutdown
Router (config-if) # exit
Now, we will verify Router on a stick configuration on the router.
Router# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
FastEthernet0/0 unassigned YES unset up up
FastEthernet0/0.2 10.0.0.1 YES manual up up
FastEthernet0/0.3 20.0.0.1 YES manual up up
FastEthernet0/0.4 30.0.0.1 YES manual up up
FastEthernet0/1 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
Vlan1 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
As you can see, all the subinterfaces that we have created under the physical interface of Cisco router is above.
Inter VLAN Verification
To verify our Router on Stick (Inter VLAN Routing) configuration, simply we will ping from one PC in a VLAN, to another PC in another VLANs.
Let’s do this on PC0. We will ping firstly, PC3 and then PC5.
PC0>ping 20.0.0.3
Pinging 20.0.0.3 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 20.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=127
Reply from 20.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=0ms TTL=127
Reply from 20.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=0ms TTL=127
Reply from 20.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=0ms TTL=127
Ping statistics for 20.0.0.3:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
PC0>ping 30.0.0.3
Pinging 30.0.0.3 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 30.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=127
Reply from 30.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=0ms TTL=127
Reply from 30.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=0ms TTL=127
Reply from 30.0.0.3: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=127
Ping statistics for 30.0.0.3:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
OSPF Packet Tracer Lab
OSPF is one of the most widely used dynamic routing protocols in enterprise networks. In this CCNA Packet Tracer lab, students practice configuring OSPF, advertising networks, establishing neighbor relationships and verifying routing tables. The lab also introduces troubleshooting techniques for routing problems, helping learners understand how routers exchange information and build efficient network paths in real-world environments.
For our OSPF Packet Tracer Lab, we will use the below topology.
STP and EtherChannel Troubleshooting Lab
STP and EtherChannel are critical technologies for maintaining stability and redundancy in Layer 2 networks. In this Packet Tracer troubleshooting lab, students learn how Spanning Tree Protocol prevents switching loops and how EtherChannel increases bandwidth and provides link redundancy. This STP and EtherChannel lab focuses not only on configuration but also on troubleshooting that helps CCNA students develop practical troubleshooting skills used by real network engineers.
More Packet Tracer Labs
Hands on experience is very improrant for a network engineer, especially for CCNA Students. To practice on Cisco routers and switches, you can practice with other packet tracer lab lessons. To do this, you can start our Cisco Packet Tracer Labs Course that covers both CCNA and CCNP ENCOR labs.
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