40 interactive CCNA 200-301 simulations: 10 command-line labs on a simulated Cisco router or switch, 12 troubleshooting scenarios built on show-command output, 10 drag-and-drops and 8 configuration tasks. Two of each type are free with no account.
Free CCNA simulation examples
CLI Labs · Network Access
CLI Lab: VLANs and access ports
SW1 is a new access switch for a two-team floor. Sales PCs plug into ports Gi1/0/1–12 and engineering PCs into Gi1/0/13–24. Gi1/0/48 is the uplink; leave it alone.
Tasks:
- Create VLAN 10 named SALES
- Create VLAN 20 named ENG
- Gi1/0/1–12 are access ports in VLAN 10
- Gi1/0/13–24 are access ports in VLAN 20
Show answer and explanation
enable
configure terminal
vlan 10
name SALES
vlan 20
name ENG
interface range gigabitEthernet1/0/1 - 12
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 10
interface range gigabitEthernet1/0/13 - 24
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 20
end
A VLAN has to exist before a port can join it (IOS creates it for you, with a warning, if it doesn't); the name is set separately in VLAN configuration mode. switchport mode access stops the port negotiating a trunk with whatever is plugged in. interface range applies one set of commands to many ports. Verify with show vlan brief: Gi1/0/1–12 should be listed under SALES and Gi1/0/13–24 under ENG.
Troubleshoot · Network Fundamentals
Troubleshoot: Read interface status
Users on R1's LAN (192.168.1.0/24, Gi0/0/1) report no connectivity, and the link to R3 on Gi0/0/2 isn't passing traffic. You run show ip interface brief.
R1#show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0/0 10.0.12.1 YES manual up up
GigabitEthernet0/0/1 192.168.1.1 YES manual administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/0/2 10.0.13.1 YES manual up down
Serial0/1/0 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
Example output in Cisco IOS format.
- Which interface explains the LAN outage? (GigabitEthernet0/0/0 / GigabitEthernet0/0/1 / GigabitEthernet0/0/2 / Serial0/1/0)
- Which command fixes the LAN outage? (ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0 / no shutdown / clear interface / shutdown)
- Gi0/0/2 shows status up, protocol down. What does that point to? (An administrator disabled it / A Layer 2 / far-end problem with the link / A missing IP address / An ACL blocking traffic)
- Which interface can pass traffic right now? (GigabitEthernet0/0/0 / GigabitEthernet0/0/1 / GigabitEthernet0/0/2 / All of them)
Show answer and explanation
- GigabitEthernet0/0/1
- no shutdown
- A Layer 2 / far-end problem with the link
- GigabitEthernet0/0/0
"Administratively down" always means a shutdown command, fixed with no shutdown. Status (Layer 1) up with protocol (Layer 2) down means the physical link is present but the data-link exchange fails — for example a far-end or keepalive problem. Serial0/1/0 is unused and expected to be down.
Drag & Drop · Network Fundamentals
Drag & Drop: OSI layers
Match each protocol, device or unit to the OSI layer it works at. Devices sit at the highest layer whose headers they read to forward traffic.
Match each item to one of: Layer 7 – Application · Layer 4 – Transport · Layer 3 – Network · Layer 2 – Data link · Layer 1 – Physical
- HTTP
- TCP
- IP
- Router
- Ethernet frame
- Switch
- 802.1Q VLAN tag
- Hub
Show answer and explanation
- HTTP → Layer 7 – Application
- TCP → Layer 4 – Transport
- IP → Layer 3 – Network
- Router → Layer 3 – Network
- Ethernet frame → Layer 2 – Data link
- Switch → Layer 2 – Data link
- 802.1Q VLAN tag → Layer 2 – Data link
- Hub → Layer 1 – Physical
Hubs repeat bits (Layer 1), switches forward on MAC addresses and VLAN tags (Layer 2), routers forward on IP addresses (Layer 3). TCP is a transport protocol and HTTP an application protocol.
Config · IP Services
Config: DHCP server for VLAN 10
Configure R1 as the DHCP server for VLAN 10 (192.168.10.0/24). Reserve .1–.10 for infrastructure; clients get gateway 192.168.10.1 and DNS server 10.10.10.53.
R1 · DHCP for VLAN 10 · reserve 192.168.10.1–10 · gateway 192.168.10.1 · DNS 10.10.10.53
- ip dhcp ______ 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.10: excluded-address / reserved-address / exclude / static-address
- ip dhcp pool SALES → ______ 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0: network / range / subnet / pool
- ______ 192.168.10.1: default-router / default-gateway / gateway / ip route
Show answer and explanation
- ip dhcp ______ 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.10: excluded-address
- ip dhcp pool SALES → ______ 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0: network
- ______ 192.168.10.1: default-router
Excluded addresses are configured globally, outside the pool. Inside the pool, network defines the subnet and default-router the gateway handed to clients.
Worked example: single-area OSPFv2 simulation
R1 and R2 share 10.0.12.0/30 (R1 is .1 on Gi0/0/0). R1's LAN is 192.168.1.0/24 on Gi0/0/1. R2 already runs OSPF in area 0. Configure OSPF process 1 on R1 with router ID 1.1.1.1, advertise both networks in area 0, stop hellos on the LAN, and confirm R2 is a FULL neighbour.
enable
configure terminal
router ospf 1
router-id 1.1.1.1
network 10.0.12.0 0.0.0.3 area 0
network 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
passive-interface gigabitEthernet0/0/1
end
show ip ospf neighbor
Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface
2.2.2.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 10.0.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0/0
Common mistakes
- Using the subnet mask (0.0.0.252) instead of the wildcard (0.0.0.3): the network statement no longer matches the interface and the adjacency never forms.
- Making the R1–R2 link passive instead of the LAN: OSPF stops sending hellos to R2.
- Putting the LAN in a different area than the task asks: the route is advertised, but the task fails.
CCNA simulations: frequently asked questions
Does the CCNA exam have simulations?
Yes. Alongside multiple-choice and drag-and-drop questions, the CCNA 200-301 exam can include simulations (you configure devices on a command line and are graded on the result), simlets (you investigate a live topology with show commands and answer questions) and testlets (you read output and diagrams and answer a set of questions). Cisco doesn't publish how many of each appear, and candidates report that you can't return to a question once you move on — so verify your work with show commands before you click Next.
How many simulations are on the CCNA exam?
Cisco doesn't publish a number, and it varies between exam forms. Many candidates report a small number of lab-style items mixed in with the multiple-choice questions. Because they can take longer than a regular question, practise them until the common configurations are automatic.
How are CCNA simulations scored?
Cisco doesn't publish its scoring for simulation items. Treat every task in a simulation as required, and confirm the result with show commands (show running-config, show ip interface brief, show vlan brief, show ip route, show ip ospf neighbor) before moving on.
Is Packet Tracer enough to prepare for CCNA simulations?
Packet Tracer is excellent for building and testing topologies. Exam simulations add time pressure and a fixed task list, so it helps to also practise short, graded labs like these, where you must meet exact requirements and verify them.
Do CCNA simulations change in v2.0?
CCNA 200-301 v2.0 starts on February 3, 2027 and keeps multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and simulation items. Cisco also says some questions ask you to evaluate output and recommendations from AI assistants. Our v2.0 filter includes an AI-assistant review scenario.
Are these CCNA simulations free?
Two of each type (8 in total) are free with no account. The other 32, with saved progress, are part of FlashGenius Premium.
The device output in the troubleshooting scenarios is example output written in Cisco IOS format, not a capture from a specific device. The CLI labs generate their output from the simulated device's configuration.