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CCNA Labs & Workbook

SOHO Ethernet LAN Design (Free Workbook + EVE-NG File)

Learn how to create a SOHO Ethernet LAN from scratch. This beginner lab guides you through setup and troubleshooting.
SOHO Ethernet LAN Design & Implementation (Free Workbook + EVE-NG File)

Table of contents

Why This Lab Matters (And Why You Should Care)

If you’re studying for your CCNA, one of the first real-world skills you need is knowing how to build a simple SOHO Ethernet LAN from scratch.

This is exactly what this lab teaches you.

You’ll set up a small office network — just like the ones used in homes and small businesses everywhere — with a router, a switch, and a few devices.

The best part? You won’t just plug things in and hope they work.
You’ll configure everything yourself, assign IP addresses, and troubleshoot connectivity problems using the same techniques real network engineers rely on every day.

By the end of this lab, you won’t just understand how SOHO networks work — you’ll be ready to set up and troubleshoot one yourself.

Lab Summary

What You’ll Set Up

Here’s what you’re building:

  • A small SOHO LAN with a router acting as the default gateway.
  • A Layer 2 switch connecting all local devices.
  • Two PCs and a printer all sharing the same subnet.

This setup is classic small office/home office networking — exactly what you’d see in a small business.

DeviceIP AddressSubnet MaskGateway
Router (Default Gateway)192.168.1.1255.255.255.0–
PC1192.168.1.10255.255.255.0192.168.1.1
PC2192.168.1.20255.255.255.0192.168.1.1
Printer192.168.1.30255.255.255.0192.168.1.1

The router serves as the default gateway, while a Layer 2 switch handles internal device connectivity.

Topology Diagram

Below is the topology diagram for this lab setup:

Prerequisites

You’ll need:

  1. EVE-NG up and running.
  2. Working images for vios-l2 (Switch) and vios-l3 (Router).
  3. Basic knowledge of router and switch CLI commands.

Implementation Steps

Step 1: Set up the topology
  1. Add these devices in EVE-NG:
    • One Router (iol-l3)
    • One Switch (iol-l2)
    • Two vPCS (PC1 and PC2)
    • One Printer (vPCS).
  2. Connect the devices:
    • Router e0/3 to Switch port e0/3.
    • PC1 to Switch port e0/0.
    • PC2 to Switch port e0/1.
    • Printer to Switch port e0/2.

Why this step? If the physical connections are wrong, no amount of configuration can save you. This is the foundation — solid wiring sets you up for success.

Step 2: Configure the Router

1. Access the router and configure its IP address:

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n

Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]: y

Router>
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config-if)#interface ethernet0/3
Router(config-if)#ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#end
Router#

Why this step? This turns your router into the traffic director for your SOHO network. Without this IP address and the no shutdown command, your router’s basically invisible to the rest of your network.

Step 3: Configure PCs and Printer

1. PC1 Configuration:

VPCS> ip 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
Checking for duplicate address...
VPCS : 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0 gateway 192.168.1.1

VPCS> set pcname PC1

PC1>

2. PC2 Configuration:

VPCS> ip 192.168.1.20 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
Checking for duplicate address...
VPCS : 192.168.1.20 255.255.255.0 gateway 192.168.1.1

VPCS> set pcname PC2

PC2>

3. Printer Configuration:

VPCS> ip 192.168.1.30 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
Checking for duplicate address...
VPCS : 192.168.1.30 255.255.255.0 gateway 192.168.1.1

VPCS> set pcname Printer

Printer>

Why this step? Every device in your network needs its own unique IP address — that’s how they find and talk to each other. And with the default gateway set, they know where to go if they want to leave the network.

Step 4: Verify Basic Connectivity

1. From PC1, ping PC2:

PC1> ping 192.168.1.20

84 bytes from 192.168.1.20 icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.569 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.1.20 icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=1.513 ms
  • Expected Result: A successful ping indicates that both devices are correctly configured and connected.

2. From PC1, ping the Printer:

PC1> ping 192.168.1.30

84 bytes from 192.168.1.30 icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.724 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.1.30 icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.806 ms
  • Expected Result: The printer should respond, confirming its IP configuration and connectivity.

3. From PC1, ping the Router:

PC1> ping 192.168.1.1

84 bytes from 192.168.1.1 icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=1.088 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.1.1 icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=1.227 ms
  • Expected Result: The router should respond, indicating that its interface is active and reachable.

Why this step? Pinging is like a digital handshake — it proves your devices can see and talk to each other. If any ping fails, you know exactly where to start troubleshooting.

Verification & Testing

1. Check Router Interface Status

Router#show ip interface brief
Interface              IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
Ethernet0/0            unassigned      YES unset  administratively down down
Ethernet0/1            unassigned      YES unset  administratively down down
Ethernet0/2            unassigned      YES unset  administratively down down
Ethernet0/3            192.168.1.1     YES manual up                    up

Tip – If you see administratively down, you skipped the no shutdown command — it’s the #1 beginner mistake.

2. Final Connectivity Tests

  • All devices should ping each other within 192.168.1.0/24.
  • All devices should be able to ping the router.

3. Test Internet Access (Optional):

  • If configured, the router should allow devices to access external networks.

Key Commands

  • Assign IP address on PCs/Printer:
    • ip <IP Address> <Subnet Mask> <Gateway>
  • Configure router interface:
    • interface <interface>
    • ip address <IP Address> <Subnet Mask>
    • no shutdown
  • Test connectivity:
    • ping <Destination IP>

Troubleshooting Tips

  • If a device cannot ping another:
    • Verify the IP configuration on both devices.
    • Check switch port status.
    • Ensure the router interface is up and configured correctly.
  • Common Issue:
    • Assuming the interface will be active after assigning an IP address. Remember to execute the no shutdown command to bring the interface up.

Key Takeaways

  • You’ll know how to design and build a simple SOHO LAN.
  • You’ll understand how switches, routers, and gateways work together.
  • You’ll get why the no shutdown command is a make-or-break moment for network connectivity.ty.

Real-world Application

This is the bread-and-butter setup for small offices, coffee shops, and home networks everywhere. If you can configure this, you’re already thinking like a real-world network technician.

Common Pitfalls

  • Forgetting to set the default gateway on devices.
  • Mixing up IP addresses or subnet masks.
  • Skipping the no shutdown command on the router.

Validation Checklist

  1. All devices have correct IP configurations.
  2. Devices within the subnet can ping each other.
  3. The router is reachable from all devices.
  4. Internet access is functional if configured.

Download This Lab’s Workbook & EVE-NG File

Want to keep this lab? Download the PDF workbook and the EVE-NG file right here:

Download Free Workbook & EVE-NG File (coming soon)

Final Thought

If you want to pass your CCNA and feel confident setting up real-world networks, hands-on practice is the only way to get there.

Get started with 130+ free labs here.

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