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, all the pieces blurs right into a VLAN of confusion. In case you’ve ever shouted, “There’s received to be a greater approach!”—you’re not alone.
Welcome to the “Nearly 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 learn how 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 discover ways to let AI assist you create your lablets.
Herald AI as your private lab coach.
Consider it as a Peloton to your community expertise—besides as a substitute 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 follow the best approach. Studying about OSPF or VLANs is one factor; troubleshooting them underneath strain is one other. The CCNA certification examination assessments how nicely you may assume and act like a community engineer, not simply recall info.
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 might even self-describe their construction.
That’s the place this method adjustments all the pieces. Whenever 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) offers 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 while you’re caught.
This sort of hands-on repetition builds confidence, muscle reminiscence, and the instinct that separates a move 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 speak 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 finest: 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 need to follow, and it builds the lab setting round that purpose.
Say you’re brushing up on VLANs and inter-VLAN routing. All you want to do is inform AI, “Construct me a small lab to follow 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 situation.
We are able to even go one step additional: Ask the AI to interpret the CCNA examination blueprint and generate labs that cowl particular subjects.
Right here’s a very good beginning immediate you need to use:
Immediate >
I'm a CCNA examination candidate, and I'm constructing a hands-on discovery lab to follow for the examination utilizing the CCNA blueprint. Listed here are the steps I need you to take: 1. Create a hands-on lab process based mostly 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 gifting away 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 rely 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, appropriate interface names. 7. As soon as the nodes are linked configure the nodes with any base configuration required to do the lab duties utilizing appropriate 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 identical to that—you’ve gotten a customized CCNA follow 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 actual factor.
With PyATS configured on the MCP server, the AI can learn machine configurations, confirm outcomes, and spotlight the place issues don’t line up.
Immediate >
okay! I've accomplished the duties - I want you to test my config and validate I've accomplished the duties appropriately. - Grade my work, if I made a mistake let me know the place I went improper and why. - Don't make any adjustments to my config. - Present me with subsequent steps to appropriate my errors. - Counsel further follow duties to assist me enhance my expertise based mostly on my errors.
Clearly, I want extra follow
Nicely, 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 a substitute of VLAN10
(Don’t decide.) Briefly, I clearly want extra follow.
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto
And that’s precisely the purpose. This complete setup is about creating an area the place you may experiment, make errors, and be taught sooner. The AI offers you real-time suggestions, displaying not simply what’s improper however why, and guiding you towards the right repair.
Each iteration makes you higher. Each mistake turns into progress. And earlier than you already know it, you’ll begin troubleshooting and configuring prefer it’s second nature.
Maintain practising. Maintain testing. Continue learning. As a result of the extra you employ this hands-on, AI-assisted method, the extra assured you’ll be while you sit to your CCNA examination — and past.
Flip ‘virtually there’ into ‘licensed’
And bear in mind, this doesn’t simply cease at CCNA. The identical technique works superbly for CCNP, DevNet (CCNA Automation), Cybersecurity, and even CCIE. Any certification that measures the way you assume by means of 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 hold at it. Follow till your “virtually there” turns into “licensed.”
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Learn subsequent:
Communicate Your Lab into Existence with AI-Pushed Cisco Modeling Labs and MCP
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