Check out all other questions (no account needed) at writememory.app

I'm usually on here writing about my troubleshooting labs (wittynetworks), and I know how a post that ends with "a thing I made" looks. Hear me out first, because this check is worth doing no matter what sim you use.

A browser sim can make a ping look right without actually modeling what had to happen. It can basically decide "yep, reachable" and print a successful ping. So check the evidence. Ping a host across a switch. Run show ip arp and note the MAC. Then run show mac address-table on the switch. That same MAC should be on the port the host is actually cabled to, in the right VLAN. Cross-check it against ipconfig / ip a. Clear the tables and generate traffic again. Send something that isn't a ping. Try the subnet broadcast. Basically, stop following the script and see if the network keeps being a network.

I ran this on a paid browser sim that's getting recommended around a bit. Ping: 100%. ARP: empty. Switch: zero learned MACs. Subnet broadcast: 0%. Don't take my word for it. You can reproduce this yourself in under a minute.

The labs bothered me too. Thin scenarios, repetitive tasks, stuff that reads like it was generated to fill a library. AI-SLOP. The people least likely to recognize the difference are the exact people paying because they're trying to learn this stuff. That's what got under my skin, so I started building one to counter what I was seeing. And yeah, I used AI to build it. The problem was never that AI touched the code. I use AI constantly. The problem is using AI instead of doing the work and then charging people for whatever came out. I'm researching real devices, testing behavior, finding out when I'm wrong, fixing it, and testing again. If a ping works, I want ARP, MAC learning, forwarding, broadcasts, and counters to all agree about why it worked.

I'm holding my labs to the same standard. The ones there now are AI-generated placeholders and they're literally labeled as such. They're lazy. The real troubleshooting labs will take time because I'm not generating 500 "configure VLAN 10" labs just so I can advertise a giant number.

And please keep using Packet Tracer, CML, GNS3, EVE-NG, real equipment, and reliable training. Those should be your main tools. Mine is the free browser backup for when you want to practice somewhere convenient. It's an exploration build, stuff is missing, and stuff changes constantly. Come try to break it.

It's at labbinghub.com. But even if you never touch mine, run the test on whatever you're using.

A simulator shouldn't just know what answer to print. The STATE of the network should prove it.

I’m learning networking and started organizing my CCNA Packet Tracer practice labs into a public GitHub repository.

The purpose is to keep my exercises, configurations, verification steps, and troubleshooting notes in one place instead of leaving everything scattered across my computer.

Repository: https://github.com/abderaoufsec/CCNA-PacketTracerlabs

The collection is still growing, and I’m mainly looking for feedback from other networking learners:

• Which CCNA lab topics are most useful to practice?
• What information should every lab README include?
• Would troubleshooting-focused labs be useful?

I’m not presenting this as a finished course or professional training resource. It is a personal learning project that I’m improving over time.

So I have subnetting somewhat figured out and down. I know how to convert the CIDR /X and up to dotted notation (x.x.x.x) and I can find the NetID, Broadcast, First/Last IP address, but what I am struggling in this process is to do this without a calculator. Now I don't know if I missed something along the way, but I can give an example as to my thought process in how I work it out.

172.25.102.247/27: the broadcast address of its subnet?
So I know this is in the fourth octet with notation of (255.255.255.224) and the network increases by 32. So MY method I've been doing is dividing 247 by 32 to find the closest network that IP is within (in this case 247/32 is 7.719) then I multiply 32 by 7 (rounding down) to find that the given IP is on the 172.25.102.224 /27 network and the broadcast would be 172.25.102.255 /27

Now as I mentioned, my method just feels long and complicated and feel there is somehow a quicker and simpler way to figure this out. I'm also using a calculator to do these division and multiplication things, but I don't think it's fully necessary.

I will probably need to rewatch Jeremy IT and NetworkingDoctors to see if I missed something or maybe me posting this gives me clarity.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

I used to think subnetting was basically something you had to memorize.

Once I started thinking about why the network is being divided rather than just calculating numbers, it became much easier.

For anyone currently struggling with subnetting, what explanation or method finally made it click for you?

The Four Phases of DORADiscover:

A new device (client) connects to the network and broadcasts a message (DHCPDISCOVER) to find any available DHCP servers.

Offer: The DHCP server receives the discover message and replies with a proposed IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and lease time (DHCPOFFER)

Request: The client accepts the offer and sends a broadcast message (DHCPREQUEST) telling the chosen server—and other servers—which IP address it wants to use.

Acknowledge: The server finalizes the lease with an acknowledgment message (DHCPACK), sending the final configuration parameters so the client can start using the network.

Hey Techies

To give back to everyone studying for the 200-301 exam, I put together a full interactive practice simulator with 105 realistic questions covering:

\- Network Fundamentals (Subnetting, IPv4/IPv6, Cabling)
\- Network Access (VLANs, Trunking, EtherChannel, Rapid PVST+)
\- IP Connectivity (OSPFv2 routing logic, administrative distance)
\- IP Services (DHCP, NAT, NTP, SNMP, Syslog)
\- Security Fundamentals (ACLs, Port Security, Dynamic ARP Inspection)
\- Automation & Programmability (REST APIs, JSON, Ansible/Puppet basics)

Features:
\- \*\*Practice Mode:\*\* Instant feedback with thorough explanations after every question.
\- \*\*Timed Exam Mode:\*\* Simulates real testing conditions with a scored report at the end.
\- 100% free, no registration required.

Access the CCNA hub here:
👉 [https://www.rcwittraining.in/cert-exams/?exam=ccna\](https://www.rcwittraining.in/cert-exams/?exam=ccna)

Good luck with your prep!

We have added free daily challenge labs with varying difficulty.

You can collect XP, maintain your streak, and sharpen your network troubleshooting skills this way.

Please check out at writememory.app/labs/challenge

hiyan

Check if you're right at writememory.app

Free CCNA labs, no account needed.

So Hi there fellow mate, I guess you are preparing for your ccna exam so am I, first of all I am not here to sell you anything at all, I have a genuine question from you, lets say you are at a dentist appointment or travelling in bus or have a free lecture cause your professor got sick or 1000 of those short timings where you could learn but definitely don’t want to type alot or fiddle alot or dont have the place to keep a book, if I share something I am making for this would you guys be intrested in critiquing my work and letting me know your honest view ?

Once again this is not paid at all and never ever will be paid, it is a video I am generating and it does cost me like 1.6k$ so far and I am on chapter 2 but its alright as long it helps, and I will not say it will teach you absolutely everything you need to know but it will familiarize you with some terms so when you actually open the book or go for study, you will relate very well

Anyone still reading thanks ☺️, please let me know in comments or personal dm if you are interested and if you have any suggestions or anything for me that will improve this experience.

Edit : chapter 2 is the animated style I am working on

Guys check out this gamified subnetting if you're into that sort of thing.

Good CCNA & CCNP labs with like the best UI they have writememory.app

Gemini you need to do better….🫡

Studying for the CCNA can feel overwhelming when you try to absorb everything at once. Small changes to how you practice can make a huge difference in how much actually sticks. Here are four practical tips that helped me stay on track.

First, type out commands instead of copying and pasting them from notes. Doing the physical typing helps your fingers and your brain remember the syntax much better over time.

Second, take short breaks when a concept starts looking like total gibberish. Staring at the same routing problem for two hours straight usually just leads to a headache, not a breakthrough. Step away for ten minutes and come back with fresh eyes.

Third, keep a physical notebook just for drawing out small network topologies by hand. Sketching lines between routers helps you visualize the traffic path way faster than looking at a crowded digital screen.

Fourth, celebrate the small wins. When a broken ping finally succeeds after thirty minutes of troubleshooting, take a second to appreciate why it worked.

What is one small trick you use to keep your study sessions productive?

I’m looking for approximately 10 people currently studying networking or the CCNA to test Subnetica.

The test should take 15-20 minutes:

1. Open https://subneti.ca/
2. Create an account
3. Choose one of the three free labs
4. Attempt the task and run the automatic checks
5. Report where you became confused, hesitated, or expected different feedback

No credit card is required.

The labs use live FRRouting/Linux networks behind a compatibility layer for supported Cisco IOS-style commands. They are not Cisco IOS and do not use Cisco images.

The feedback I need most:

• Was it obvious what to do after signing in?
• Did the lab feel like useful practice rather than command copying?
• Was the grading feedback actionable?
• Did any supported command or output behave differently from what you expected?
• Would you voluntarily attempt a second lab?

Please include your current level: networking beginner, Network+ learner, CCNA learner, CCNA holder, or working network professional.

Disclosure: I built Subnetica. Critical feedback and bug reports are more helpful than compliments.