CCNA Exploration 3: LAN Switching and Wireless Labs


CCNA Exploration 3 is supported by one or more of the following NETLAB+ pods:

The supported lab list (below) provides a list of CCNA Exploration 3 compatible labs and the pod types that can be used for each lab.

Lab Modifications

The Exploration 3 labs included with NETLAB+ have been modified by NDG for remote accessibility and alignment with a single unified LAN Switching Pod. Students and instructors should use the modified versions found on the NETLAB+ system. These modifications do not compromise the lab's purpose. Please refer to the details in the Supported Lab List table below.

  • Most labs use LAN Switching Pod and Network Fundamental Pod, allowing existing NETLAB+ pods to service both CCNA Exploration 1 and 3.
  • In order to simplify the lab verification steps, the LAN Switching Pod should have PCA, PCB and PCC installed.
  • Skills exams for Exploration 3 will be available in a future update.
  • The MAP and MAP w/ASA support CCNA Exploration 2, 3 and 4 labs, in addition to the CCNA Security labs.

Enabling the Labs

To enable the CCNA Exploration 3 labs, create a class and check the appropriate global labs in the class settings as described in the table below, depending on the pod(s) that will be used.

MAP MAP MAP NFP LSP
Pods Global Labs Instructions
LAN Switching Pod and/or
Network Fundamentals Pod 		AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 English On the "Global Labs" section of the class settings, check "AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 English" if the LSP and/or the NFP will be used to perform the labs.
Multi-purpose Academy Pod AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0-MAP-English On the "Global Labs" section of the class settings, check the "AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0-MAP-English" if the MAP will be used to perform the labs.
Multi-purpose Academy Pod w/ASA AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 - MAP/ASA - Eng On the "Global Labs" section of the class settings, check the "AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 - MAP/ASA - Eng" if the MAP w/ASA will be used to perform the labs.
(LAN Switching Pod and/or
Network Fundamentals Pod) and
(Multi-purpose Academy Pod and/or Multi-purpose Academy Pod w/ASA) 		AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 English and
(AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0-MAP-English and/or
AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 - MAP/ASA - Eng) 		On the "Global Labs" section of the class settings, check both the "AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 English" and ("AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0-MAP-English" and/or "AE CCNA EXP 3 V4.0.3.0 - MAP/ASA - Eng" if the (LSP and/or NFP) and the (MAP and/or MAP w/ASA) will be used to perform the labs.

You may also allow the class to make "pod-only" reservations using the pod types listed above. To enable pod-only reservations, check the box in the class settings for the appropriate pod type. Options include:

These reservations are not tied to specific lab exercises. Therefore, the pod will be configured using the default network configuration. Please note however, not all CCNA labs use the default network configuration and must be completed by selecting the correct lab exercise (see the following discussion).

Using the Labs

Always select the correct lab exercise for the lab being performed. Students or teams should schedule the correct lab exercise from the catalog. NETLAB+ will only show those labs for which the required pod type is available. A lab that works on different pod types may appear more than once if your system is so equipped. Instructors should select the correct lab from the Exercise tab during instructor-led lab reservations. This can be done as many times as needed during the reservation.

Importance of Choosing the Correct Lab Exercise

Several of the labs may differ from the standard pod topologies. This is handled by NETLAB+ Dynamic VLAN Mapping technology. Always select the correct lab exercise for the actual lab. This insures that NETLAB+ will set up VLANs on the control switch such that lab devices and PCs are placed in the correct LAN segment for the exercise being performed. Selecting the correct exercise will also make the completed lab output easier to find in the archive.

Supported Lab List

Lab Description Pod Required Comments
1.3.1 Review of Concepts from Exploration 1 NFP
1.3.2 Review of Concepts from Exploration 1 - Challenge NFP
1.3.3 Troubleshooting a Small Network NFP
2.5.1 Basic Switch Configuration MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
2.5.2 Managing Switch Operating System and Configuration Files MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP A TFTP server installed in PCA, PCB and PCC is needed. NDG modified version provided.
2.5.3 Managing Switch Operating System and Configuration Files - Challenge MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP A TFTP server installed in PCA, PCB and PCC is needed. NDG modified version provided.
3.5.1 Basic VLAN Configuration. MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
3.5.2 Challenge VLAN Configuration MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
3.5.3 Troubleshooting VLAN Configurations MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
4.4.1 Basic VTP Configuration MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
4.4.2 VTP Configuration Challenge MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
4.4.3 Troubleshooting VTP Configuration MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
5.5.1 Basic Spanning Tree Protocol MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
5.5.2 Challenge Lab - Spanning Tree Protocol MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
5.5.3 Troubleshooting Spanning Tree Protocol MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
6.4.1 Basic Inter-VLAN Routing MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
6.4.2 Challenge Inter-VLAN Routing MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
6.4.3 Troubleshooting Inter-VLAN Routing MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP NDG modified version provided.
7.5.1 Basic Wireless Configuration LSP+W The wireless Pod is needed. Under development.
7.5.2 Challenge Wireless WRT300N LSP+W The wireless Pod is needed. Under development.
7.5.3 Troubleshooting Wireless Configuration LSP+W The wireless Pod is needed. Under development.
Skills Exam MAP, MAP w/ASA, or LSP Enabled separately.