GNS3 – My Technical Test for Employers

I had an interesting requirement from a customer.

They asked me to implement a GNS3 server and design a 30 – 45 minute test that they could administrate to their candidates seeking a technical position with in their organisation.

The position was for a 2nd line network engineer role.

The test was to be aimed at CCNP level or equivalent, however I was to design it so that it is easy enough for even the rusty CCNP / engineers and hard enough for the complete brain dumpers and blaggers that serve to only dilute the IT industry with poor quality skill sets.

The main purpose of this test is to speed up the HR process by filtering the stronger candidates from the weaker candidates.

The successful candidates would then go ahead and progress to a final interview.

Here is the GNS3 test that I created for the purpose – To be honest, even a highly proficient CCNA engineer could do this 🙂

The .net files and pre-configuration files can be download from here

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Configure the network as per the diagram and complete the tasks below.

• Do NOT create any additional interfaces
• Do NOT use any static routes or policy-based routes unless asked.
• Ignore any duplex mismatch messages and do NOT modify any of the ports speed or duplex configurations.

Task 1: Configure an 802.1q trunk between SW1 fa1/15 interface and SW2 fa1/15 interface.

Task 2: Configure a static ether-channel 802.1Q trunk between SW1 and SW2. Both switches fa1/10 and fa1/11 interfaces should be members of the same LAG.

Task 3: Ensure all VLAN traffic successfully goes over the fa1/15 trunk and NOT the ether-channel trunk unless the fa1/15 trunk is down. Do NOT use backup interface to accomplish this.

 

Task 4: R1 and R2 should be put into VLAN 10 and should be able to ping each other fa0/0 interface. You must use the legacy vlan database command to create the VLAN.

Task 5: Ensure VLAN 20 traffic is never permitted to traverse the fa1/15 trunk should that trunk link become the active trunk link

Task 6: Ensure SW1 has the highest probability of always being the root bridge for VLAN 10, even if another switch is introduced into the network.

 

Task 7: Configure OSPF area 0 between R1 and R2. OSPF hellos should only be sent out their connected subnet interface ONLY. Ensure R1 loopback 0 interface can ping R2 loopback interface.

 

Task 8: Configure EIGRP 100 between the connected links of R1 & R3 and R2 & R3 ONLY. Ensure R3 REDISTRIBUTE its loopback 0 interface ONLY.

Task 9: Mutually redistribute between OSPF and EIGRP on R1 and R2. All routers (R1, R2, and R3) should be able to ping each others loopback 0 interfaces.

 

Task 10: Without using static routes or policy-based routing, ensure R2 is able to traceroute to R3 loopback 0 interface over its directly connected link. Don’t worry about affecting the optimal routing of other routes.

Task 11: You must deny R1 from being able to telnet to R2 only if R1 sources the telnet request from its fa0/0 IP address.

 

Bonus Task: on R2, Redistribute RIP into OSPF and RIP into EIGRP. Ensure you account for any potential loops. All routers should have full reachability to each other loopback 0 interfaces including R4 Loopback 0 interface.