Lab Summary
- Lab Title: SOHO Ethernet LAN Design
- Level: Beginner
- Estimated Time: 30 minutes
- Images Used: iol-l2 (Switch), iol-l3 (Router)
- Book Reference: CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Vol.1, Chapter 2
Story Start: “You Just Got Hired to Build It From Scratch”
You just joined a small company as their first IT technician.
There’s no network yet.
No internet.
No printing.
No shared access.
Your task?
- Build a simple LAN.
- Connect two PCs and a printer.
- Configure the router as a gateway.
This is the kind of network you’ll find in small offices, startups, or even home-based businesses.
By the end of this lab, you’ll not only build it — you’ll understand how to support it.
Why This Lab Matters
This is your first step into the real world of networking.
Most companies — especially small ones — rely on simple LANs to run their business. In this lab, you’ll learn how to build one from scratch:
- Design a flat LAN architecture
- Configure the router as a gateway
- Connect and configure endpoints
You’ll walk away knowing how to bring a network online — from cable to ping.
What You’ll Build
- 1 Router (iol-l3)
- 1 Switch (iol-l2)
- 2 PCs and 1 Printer (vPCS)
- All devices on 192.168.1.0/24
This setup is classic small office/home networking — exactly what you’d see in a small business.
| Device | IP Address | Subnet Mask | Gateway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Router (Default Gateway) | 192.168.1.1 | 255.255.255.0 | – |
| PC1 | 192.168.1.10 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.1.1 |
| PC2 | 192.168.1.20 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.1.1 |
| Printer | 192.168.1.30 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.1.1 |
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:
- EVE-NG up and running.
- Working images for vios-l2 (Switch) and vios-l3 (Router).
- Basic knowledge of router and switch CLI commands.
Step-by-Step Implementation
Step 1: Build the Topology
- Add these devices in EVE-NG:
- One Router (iol-l3)
- One Switch (iol-l2)
- Two vPCS (PC1 and PC2)
- One Printer (vPCS).
- Connect the devices:
- Connect Router e0/3 → Switch e0/3
- PC1 → Switch port e0/0
- PC2 → Switch port e0/1
- Printer → Switch port e0/2
Why this step? Before we configure anything, we need the foundation. Every working network starts with clean, correct physical connections.cess.
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#