how it works

Cisco IOS, in a browser tab

Practice IOS commands in an emulator that runs in your browser. Each router and switch has its own console and configuration. The emulator supports the commands used in these labs; it does not run a Cisco software image.

What a lab is

Each lab pairs a network topology with instructions. Enter commands in a device console and check the results beside the step. Configuration checks update after each command; reading sections have a Mark as read button.

This browser saves your lab progress and device sessions. Export progress from the library to back up completion records or import them in another browser. Progress exports do not transfer device sessions. Download running configurations from a lab to keep a separate copy. Reset clears that lab’s saved work and restores its starting configuration.

Where to start

Start with the free IOS essentials lab if you are new to the console. Allow about 40 minutes to practice modes, help, show commands, an interface, a static route, ping, and saving a configuration.

Troubleshooting labs

The six troubleshooting labs open with faults already configured. Each ticket gives you a symptom and a success condition. Investigate with show commands and connectivity tests; open the walkthrough when you want to see the diagnosis and fix.

The Mega Lab

Build a ten-node campus from its starting configuration. Configure VLANs, spanning tree, EtherChannel, redundant gateways, OSPF, NAT, DHCP, NTP, logging, and access controls. The final checks test the combined network.

What the emulator does

• IOS modes, abbreviations, ? help, Tab completion, IOS-style error messages, and the running-config that results from what you type.
• Switching: VLANs, trunks, VTP, DTP, Rapid PVST with root election and port roles, PortFast, BPDU Guard, Root Guard, EtherChannel with LACP and PAgP.
• Routing: static routes, RIPv2, OSPF with areas and network types and authentication, EIGRP named mode with wide metrics and feasible successors, IPv6 routing, GRE tunnels.
• Services: HSRP, VRRP, GLBP, DHCP pools, NAT in all three forms, NTP, syslog, SNMP, QoS policy configuration, and ACLs that filter ping (standard and extended).
• Ping and traceroute that walk the simulated routing tables through NAT, ARP that is learned when you send traffic, and a CAM table that follows spanning tree.
• Port security that err-disables a port when the wrong host shows up, VTY access-classes, and a telnet client that attaches your console to the far router.

What it leaves out

The emulator computes protocol state instead of exchanging real packets. It models reachability, routing, and selected service behavior, but it does not reproduce hardware timing, throughput, or every packet counter. SSH and 802.1X configuration can be inspected without establishing real client sessions. Each lab’s notes explain relevant limits.

Password hashes and keys are display placeholders. Use lab-only credentials.

Free and members labs

IOS Essentials is free: ess-01. The rest are marked members and are part of PingLabz paid membership. Sign in with your existing PingLabz account to open them.

The console

Open the library