Ever really feel such as you’re one subnet away from passing the CCNA? You’ve watched the movies, learn the guides, and aced the flashcards—however when that timer begins, every thing blurs right into a VLAN of confusion. In the event you’ve ever shouted, “There’s acquired to be a greater approach!”—you’re not alone.
Welcome to the “Virtually There” Membership—a inhabitants of approach too many. Right here’s the excellent news: Study with Cisco is right here to assist. And this iteration of The AI Break will clarify easy methods to get AI that can assist you push throughout that CCNA end line.
Right here’s the key method:
- Spin up CCNA lablets in Cisco Modeling Labs with the assistance of AI
- Use our CML MCP Server to learn to let AI enable you to create your lablets.
Herald AI as your private lab coach.
Consider it as a Peloton to your community abilities—besides as an alternative of spinning wheels, we’re spinning up topologies.
So, why does this matter, anyway?
Let’s be sincere—most CCNA candidates don’t fail as a result of they didn’t examine. They fail as a result of they didn’t apply the fitting approach. Studying about OSPF or VLANs is one factor; troubleshooting them beneath strain is one other. The CCNA certification examination exams how effectively you possibly can suppose and act like a community engineer, not simply recall details.
AI, Mannequin Context Protocol (MCP), and Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) to the rescue
As Joe Clarke highlighted in his latest weblog, Communicate Your Lab into Existence with AI-Pushed Cisco Modeling Labs and MCP, by combining Mannequin Context Protocol with CML, engineers can create AI-aware topologies that perceive context and may even self-describe their construction.
That’s the place this method modifications every thing. While you mix AI, Mannequin Context Protocol (MCP), and Cisco Modeling Labs (CML), you’re creating an setting that’s dynamic, hands-on, and guided:
- Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) provides you the sandbox to construct and break networks safely.
- Mannequin Context Protocol (MCP) connects that setting to an agentic AI layer that understands your topology.
- AI turns into your mentor that may generate duties mapped to the CCNA blueprint, create mini challenges, ask you to confirm routing tables, and even nudge you with hints once you’re caught.
This sort of hands-on repetition builds confidence, muscle reminiscence, and the instinct that separates a cross from a close to miss.
I want to check. Are you able to simply get to it?
Now that we all know why this issues, let’s get sensible.
Right here’s what you’ll have to get began:
- CML MCP Server (setup directions)
- CML put in (native set up) – Free
- AI mannequin configured – (Use your most popular mannequin or agent that may discuss to MCP). Listed here are some free choices:
Let’s get AI to construct the lablet
Now comes the enjoyable half—letting AI do what it does greatest: translate intent into motion. You don’t have to memorize command syntax or stare at a clean topology questioning the place to begin. Simply inform AI what you wish to apply, and it builds the lab setting round that aim.
Say you’re brushing up on VLANs and inter-VLAN routing. All it is advisable do is inform AI, “Construct me a small lab to apply VLAN segmentation and routing between two subnets.” Inside seconds, the MCP-connected AI spins up a topology in Cisco Modeling Labs (CML): a few routers, switches, and hosts, pre-wired to your state of affairs.
We will even go one step additional: Ask the AI to interpret the CCNA examination blueprint and generate labs that cowl particular subjects.
Right here’s an excellent beginning immediate you need to use:
Immediate >
I'm a CCNA examination candidate, and I'm constructing a hands-on discovery lab to apply for the examination utilizing the CCNA blueprint. Listed here are the steps I would like you to take: 1. Create a hands-on lab activity primarily based on the CCNA blueprint right here: https://learningcontent.cisco.com/paperwork/advertising and marketing/exam-topics/200-301-CCNA-v1.1.pdf 2. Solely have at most **One** associated Process, present sufficient info to finish the duty with out freely giving the solutions 3. Create a brand new CML lab for this lab and supply the directions for what I have to carry out as lab notes. Be aware: lab notes could make use of markdown for richer textual content. 4. Create the lab topology in CML utilizing `CML Free model`: - Solely Use `IOL`, `IOL-L2`, `ASAv` `Desktop`, `Server`, `unmanaged switches`, and `exterior connectors`. - Do NOT use `IOSv` or `IOSv-L2`. Be aware: unmanaged switches and exterior connectors don't depend as nodes when contemplating the utmost of 5. - Don't create the total topology immediately. 5. First, create an empty lab with the notes, then add the nodes, after which join them (so to get the interfaces proper). 6. You should definitely replace the lab notes with the brand new, right interface names. 7. As soon as the nodes are linked configure the nodes with any base configuration required to do the lab duties utilizing right interfaces. 8. Upon completion be sure you begin the lab. - Begin with Steps 1-4 then await my directions to proceed - Subsequent, do Steps 5-8
And similar to that—you may have a customized CCNA apply lab able to go:
- A topology constructed to the precise specs you want from the CCNA blueprint
- Lab notes that information you thru the duties
Now, let’s get the AI to validate and grade your work
AI constructed your lab, and also you’ve accomplished the duties. Now it’s time to see how shut your work is to the true factor.
With PyATS configured on the MCP server, the AI can learn system configurations, confirm outcomes, and spotlight the place issues don’t line up.
Immediate >
okay! I've accomplished the duties - I want you to examine my config and validate I've accomplished the duties accurately. - Grade my work, if I made a mistake let me know the place I went mistaken and why. - Don't make any modifications to my config. - Present me with subsequent steps to right my errors. - Counsel further apply duties to assist me enhance my abilities primarily based on my errors.
Clearly, I want extra apply
Effectively, let’s simply say my first AI-graded lab didn’t precisely earn me a gold star:
- I forgot to create VLAN10and VLAN20 on SW1
- I put PC1in VLAN20 as an alternative of VLAN10
(Don’t choose.) Briefly, I clearly want extra apply.
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto
And that’s precisely the purpose. This entire setup is about creating an area the place you possibly can experiment, make errors, and study quicker. The AI provides you real-time suggestions, displaying not simply what’s mistaken however why, and guiding you towards the right repair.
Each iteration makes you higher. Each mistake turns into progress. And earlier than you realize it, you’ll begin troubleshooting and configuring prefer it’s second nature.
Preserve practising. Preserve testing. Continue learning. As a result of the extra you employ this hands-on, AI-assisted method, the extra assured you’ll be once you sit to your CCNA examination — and past.
Flip ‘virtually there’ into ‘licensed’
And keep in mind, this doesn’t simply cease at CCNA. The identical methodology works superbly for CCNP, DevNet (CCNA Automation), Cybersecurity, and even CCIE. Any certification that measures the way you suppose by an issue advantages from having AI as your lab accomplice.
So go forward. Fireplace up your MCP server, let AI generate your subsequent problem, and maintain at it. Follow till your “virtually there” turns into “licensed.”
Able to schedule your 200-301 CCNA examination? Lock in a second likelihood at success with Cisco Examination Safeguard.
Learn subsequent:
Communicate Your Lab into Existence with AI-Pushed Cisco Modeling Labs and MCP
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