ICN Lab Sharing Session Network Deployment 2026

Building a network is more than just plugging in cables and assigning IPs. That was the core message of the Network Deployment sharing session held by the ICN Laboratory on Friday, May 8th, 2026. Around 30 participants gathered to learn how a network is planned and configured end-to-end, from theory all the way to hands-on practice in Cisco Packet Tracer.

The session opened with Hubert walking participants through the concepts of network planning and topology design. He introduced a three-segment topology consisting of HQ, Core, and Branch, each connected using Cisco 2911 routers and Cisco 2960 switches. Before diving into configuration, Hubert emphasized that a well-planned network saves far more time than troubleshooting a poorly built one. From there, the discussion moved into IP addressing and subnettin, covering the differences between IPv4 and IPv6, and working through CIDR calculations applied directly to the topology being built.

With the addressing sorted out, Hubert introduced VLANs as a way to logically segment the network without needing separate physical infrastructure. Participants configured access ports and trunk ports on their switches, and learned how the Router-on-a-Stick method allows a single router interface to serve multiple VLANs through subinterfaces.

This was followed by DHCP, where participants learned how IP addresses can be automatically distributed to devices without manual configuration on each one. Hubert walked them through setting up DHCP pools on each router, including why excluding the gateway IP from the pool matters more than it might seem.

The session wrapped up with routing, from understanding routing tables and the difference between static and dynamic routing, to implementing OSPF across all three routers. A connectivity test between different networks served as the final challenge, and a successful ping is always the most satisfying moment of the day.