Packet Tracer Lab 1.3.4.2 Reflection

After static routing, there is another type of routing called dynamic routing. That is what this lab is about. Unlike static routes, dynamic routes allow routers to automatically discover new networks from other routers, that is just one thing I learned from this lab. Another is that routing tables can contain and manipulate dynamic and static routes. For this lab, I had to configure the RIP on each of the routers and this was very time consuming. After configuring the RIP as the dynamic routing protocol on the routers, the next step was to verify the static and dynamic routes. The lab was incredibly long and to basically sum it up, I had to configure static and dynamic routes in all the routers in order to create a full fledged routing table. In order to verify the routes, I had to use the ping command. Overall, I think this was a good preview of what being a network engineer is like.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.3.3.2 Reflection

From this point on, we got into the more complicated aspects of routing and networking protocols. One form of routing is static routing, which is what this lab is about. The activity in the lab is centered around on how to add remote networks to routing tables using static routing. The lab was fairly long so instead of explaining everything step-by-step, I'll simplify it and sum it up. Basically, there were 3 routers in the topology provided and the goal was to create static routes from one router to another for each router. In order to do this, I had to access the CLI and then enter a few commands, which I found to be a beneficial experience, and configure routes into the routing table for routers for R1, R2, and R3.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.3.2.2 Reflection

This lab is centered around how to work with routing tables and how they are created manually. The main focus of the activity are routers R1 and R2 and the networks configured on their ports. The things I learned from this lab are how a routing table functions and it's main purpose in a router's configuration, in addition to that, I have also learned how a router manages the directly connected routes in the routing table. The first thing I had to do was enable the interfaces on R1 that had been shutdown. In order to do that, I had to access the CLI and follow the commands given to me by the instructions. After I enabled the FastEthernet and Serial interfaces, I had to verify the interfaces through pings. This lab was a good activity for me and it gave me a good idea of how to deal with possible complications I may face in configuring a router which include enabling previously disabled ports.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.2.2.4 Reflection

This lab was the first time in the unit that I was able to actually configure a router and verify that the configuration was done correctly. The lab had me first rename the router and then configure the interfaces on the router. These interfaces were the FastEthernet0/0 and Serial0/0/0 ports. The next step in configuring the router was configuring the passwords for the router, more specifically the console and vty passwords, but along with that, I also had to enable secret passwords. Then I also had to configure a login banner, this banner was known as "banner motd". After all that, the configuration was saved to the NVRAM and then in order to verify that the configuration was correct, I had to use the show commands which I felt was a good opportunity for me to get used to the CLI.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.2.1.2 Reflection

The name of this lab is "Connecting and Identifying Devices" and from that, we can infer that the lab is going to teach us how to set up devices in the network and how to properly name so that they can be easy to keep track of. In this lab, I learned how to connect all the devices using the proper cable and name all the devices in the network. This was necessary because naming the devices helps avoiding any kind of confusion. The lab was very simple actually and all I really had to do was just rename the devices according to the names specified in the instructions.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.1.5.4 Reflection

Since this is only the second unit of the CCNA Curriculum, the creators of the labs probably assumed that we are still getting used to how the Packet Tracer labs work and how the program is designed. I feel this lab was necessary because it taught me how to use the Device tabs in the program. The Device tab is arguably the most necessary tab in Packet Tracer since you can't have a network without any devices. In this lab, I basically made a topology and learned how to configure devices in the network.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.1.5.3 Reflection

This lab was about another integral aspect to routing and networking concepts. That aspect is properly cabling devices and getting them to work in unison and to work flawlessly. The lab was fairly short and simple which made it much quicker to understand. Basically, all I had to do was use the type of cable I felt fit or the specified cable in order to connect two devices on the topology that was already predetermined by the creators of the lab. I felt this lab, although it was short, taught me the importance of connecting cables to the proper ports because I made a mistake by connecting the cable to the wrong port and the network did not work.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.1.4.3

This lab is just another step in getting accustomed to the way Packet Tracer works as well as seeing how a router goes into the Setup Mode and operates from there. The first thing we had to do was enter the CLI for a router in the given topology provided by Packet Tracer. After entering the CLI of the router, there was a list of instructions I had to follow in order to enter the Setup Mode and then manipulate it. From this lab, I learned a few imperative skills to networking and configuring routers. The most important thing I learned was how to interact with a router through its CLI.

What happens in Stage 2?

Today, well yesterday, in class, we did an activity that simulated the boot-up process of a router. The process was broken into two stages and the first was just basic steps a router takes to start up such as performing the POST, copying the configuration files and such. The second stage focused on demonstrating how routers perform one of their main functions, which is forwarding packets. Stage two demonstrates how a packet is received from the Local Area Network via the NIC, represented by Student 6, and how the packet is processed before being forwarded to the next router through WAN.

Packet Tracer Lab 1.1.1.5 Reflection

This lab was very simple. Basically, all I had to do was watch a simulation of how a corporate network operates. The first thing I did was just examine the network diagram that was setup already in the Packet Tracer. Then, I read the instructions that came with the activity and clicked on Simulation mode. By clicking on Simulation mode, I was able to see how a corporate network actually comes together and operates. Once I did that, the lab was complete.