Network+ exam prep: network implementation
You set up static and dynamic routing, NAT, VLANs and DHCP on a real router and switch topology and plan wireless and physical installation.
Level 201 · 17 lessons · 15 practice labs
Lessons
Routing
- Static routing: connecting two networks
- Dynamic routing: forming an OSPF adjacency
- Understanding BGP: routing between organisations
- NAT and PAT: taking an internal network out through one address
- Gateway redundancy: VRRP and friends
- Short task: connect three branches with OSPF
Switching
- Configuring VLANs and trunks
- Preventing loops: the spanning tree protocol
- Routing between VLANs
- MTU, frame size and fragmentation
- Short task: split the accounting and guest networks with VLANs
Wireless and physical installation
- Wireless channel planning: 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
- Wireless security modes and enterprise authentication
- Site surveys and placing access points with a heat map
- Cabling, rack layout, power and cooling
- Setting up DHCP scopes, reservations and relays
- Capstone: build a new office’s network end to end and document it
Practice labs
- Add a static route to a remote branch: You add the missing static route between two routers and verify two-way reachability to the branch server.
- Fix a wrong default route: On a branch router that cannot reach the internet you find the default route pointing to the wrong next hop and fix it.
- Set up a floating static route for a backup link: You set up a higher-distance backup route that takes over when the main link fails and test the switch by cutting the link.
- Read OSPF neighbours and routes: You read OSPF neighbour state and learned routes on FRR routers and compare them to the network map.
- Repair an OSPF adjacency that won't form: You diagnose from the logs an adjacency failing over an area or timer mismatch and fix it.
- Bring a new branch into OSPF: You add a fourth branch router to OSPF, advertise only the needed networks and verify reachability from every branch.
- Take an internal network out through one address: You write a source NAT rule for the internal network on the lab gateway and verify the clients reach the outside server.
- Publish an internal web server to the outside: You forward only port 443 to the internal web server with destination NAT and test that other ports stay closed.
- Join two networks with overlapping addresses through NAT: You connect to an acquired company using the same subnet through address translation and reach a server on each side.
- Find the active device in gateway redundancy: You find which of two VRRP routers holds the virtual IP and report their priorities.
- Test gateway failover: You measure that clients keep going out through the virtual gateway without interruption when the active router goes down.
- Solve two active gateways at once: In a VRRP setup where both routers think they are active you find the authentication and network problem and return to a single master.
- Give the printer a DHCP reservation: You reserve a fixed address for a printer's MAC on the lab DHCP server and verify it gets the same address after renewing.
- Expand an exhausted DHCP pool: You review lease times and range of a pool where new devices get no address and enlarge it safely.
- Set up a DHCP relay for a remote subnet: You set up a relay and a second scope so the central DHCP server also serves another subnet and test it with a client.
About this course
You set up static and dynamic routing, NAT, VLANs and DHCP on a real router and switch topology and plan wireless and physical installation.
What you will learn
- Routing
- Switching
- Wireless and physical installation
Prerequisites
Finishing the level 101 courses of the same path, or knowing those topics, is enough.
Lab environment
Lessons run in your own Kali Linux terminal in the browser, connected to a private lab network. Nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this course right for my level?
- The course is at level 201; it assumes you know the topics of the lower-level courses.
- Is there anything to install?
- No. Every lesson runs in your own lab environment that opens in the browser.
- How do lessons work?
- Each lesson has 8 to 10 steps and a short quiz. Early steps show the command to type, later steps give less help; if two attempts fail, the solution opens.
- Can I try it for free?
- Yes. The first three lessons of every course are free.