University of Engineering and Technology, New Campus, Lahore

Department of Computer Science

Open Ended Lab

Course Code & Title: CSC203L Computer Networks Lab

1. Course Learning Outcome:

CLO 4: Design, configure, and test small computer networks using appropriate addressing
schemes, protocols, and simulation tools.
Level of CLO: CLO3 is mapped to the 6th level, i.e., Creation of Bloom’s taxonomy.

2. Schwab/Herron Levels of Laboratory Openness

Level Methodology Description Problem Ways Answers
&
Means
2 Guided Students investigate a teacher Given Open Open
Inquiry presented question using student
designed/selected procedures

3. Problem Statement:
Design and implement a university Network with multiple sub-campus each campus having
multiple departments using a network simulator Cisco Packet Tracer. Each campus should
include at least three departments (e.g., Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and
Administration) and a server room hosting core services. The project will require configuring
various network devices, implementing VLANs, establishing inter-router routing, and testing
end to end connectivity.

Problem Description:

Network Design Requirements:

Network Topology:

 The network topology must be multi-campus (at least 2 sub-campus & one main campus),
with a star-shaped design connecting each sub-campus to a central core switch, but also
ensuring communication between different campus locations via border routers.
 Each sub-campus (i.e., the departments) should have its own border router for connectivity
between sub-campuses and the central network.
 At least 4 border routers should be used: one for each sub-campus for high availability and
redundancy, and inter-campus communication.
  The main campus can still have the central core switch, but each sub-campus should be
interconnected with multiple border routers to ensure there’s no single point of failure in
inter-campus communication.

Devices & Network Components:

Routers:

 At least 8 routers will be used:

o 4 border routers, each located at one sub-campus for inter-campus communication
and to ensure redundancy.
o 4 internal routers (one for each sub-campus department) to handle routing between
departments and internal communication.

Switches:

 5 switches will be used, including one Layer 3 switch at each sub-campus for routing between
VLANs and inter-campus routing.

End Devices:

 10+ PCs per department, along with printers and mobile devices (e.g., Computer Science: 10
PCs, Electrical Engineering: 10 PCs, Administration: 10 PCs).
 Mobile Devices: Wireless devices (smartphones, laptops) will also be integrated into the
network via access points at each sub-campus.

Servers:

 At least two servers per department: one for HTTP and another for Email.
 Two additional servers for public services such as a Web Server, DNS server, and FTP
server for file sharing and storage across departments at each sub-campus.

ISP Connection:

 The network must be connected to an ISP using 4 border routers, one for each sub-campus,
ensuring multiple paths to the internet and between sub-campuses for load balancing and
failover.

2. Network Configuration:

IP Addressing & Subnetting:

IPv4 Addressing:

 The network will use IPv4 addressing.

 Each sub-campus (Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Administration) will have
its own subnet with VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking) for efficient use of IPs.
 Each sub-campus will have its own public IP range provided by the ISP for direct internet
connectivity.
 The private IP range for internal network communication ([Link]/16) will be used across
all sub-campuses.

Private IP Addressing Scheme:

  For the internal network, private IPs from [Link]/16 will be used for subnets.
 Example:
o Main Campus could use [Link]/24
o (Administrator in main campus)
o Sub-Campus 1 (Having 3 different departments) could use [Link]/24
o Sub-Campus 2 (Having 3 different department) could use [Link]/24

VLAN Configuration:

 Each department within each sub-campus will be placed in a separate VLAN for isolation and
performance optimization.
o VLAN 10: Computer Science
o VLAN 20: Electrical Engineering
o VLAN 30: Administration
 Wireless Devices: Separate VLANs for wireless devices at each sub-campus to segregate
traffic and improve performance.

Inter-VLAN Routing:

 The Layer 3 switches will perform inter-VLAN routing between the different VLANs within
each sub-campus and between sub-campuses.

Routing Protocols:

 OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) will be used for internal routing between the internal
routers at each sub-campus and the core network.
 The border routers at each sub-campus will use BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) for inter-
campus routing, ensuring load balancing and redundancy between sub-campuses.

Server Configuration:

 Web Server: A server for hosting web services (HTTP) for the entire campus network.
 Email Server: A server for handling email services (SMTP, POP3).
 DNS Server: A server for handling domain name resolution.
 FTP Server: A server for storing and sharing files between departments across all sub-
campuses securely.

Security:

 Implement ACLs (Access Control Lists) to restrict access between the different departments,
sub-campuses, and servers.
 The border routers will implement basic firewall rules to block unauthorized external access
between sub-campuses and from the outside world.

3. Testing & Troubleshooting:

Test Cases:

1. Inter-Unit Communication:

 Test 1: Ensure Computer Science (Unit A) at Sub-Campus 1 can communicate with Electrical
Engineering (Unit B) at Sub-Campus 2 and Administration (Unit C) at Sub-Campus 3.
  Test 2: Test communication between Sub-Campus 1 and Sub-Campus 2 (e.g., Computer
Science to Electrical Engineering).
 Test 3: Check communication between end devices within each department at each sub-
campus.

2. Server Access:

 Test 1: Verify that Computer Science (Unit A) at Sub-Campus 1 can access the Web Server
and Email Server located in the central server room.
 Test 2: Ensure that Electrical Engineering (Unit B) at Sub-Campus 2 can access the DNS
Server at the central server room.
 Test 3: Administration (Unit C) at Sub-Campus 3 should only be able to access the Email
Server.

3. Security:

 Test 1: Ensure that Administration (Unit C) at Sub-Campus 3 cannot access the Web Server
in Computer Science at Sub-Campus 1.
 Test 2: Use ping, tracert, and show commands to troubleshoot and verify routing functionality
between different sub-campuses.

Troubleshooting:

 Use the show ip route command to verify routing tables and ensure proper routing
between VLANs and sub-campuses.
 Troubleshoot VLANs and subnetting using show vlan brief to check VLAN
configurations at each sub-campus.

 Verify that wireless devices at each sub-campus are able to connect, obtain IP
addresses via DHCP, and access network services such as FTP, DNS, and HTTP.

4. Instructions:

 This is a group project; each group will consist of 4 students.

 Your project will be graded according to the provided rubrics.
 Proper network labeling (device names, IP addresses, VLAN IDs, etc.) is mandatory.
 Any form of plagiarism or copying of simulation files/configurations will result in
penalties as per department policy.
 Deadline to submit: 5th January 2026

5. Deliverables:

Simulation File:

 Complete Packet Tracer file (.pkt) with the network topology, configurations, and
simulations.
 The simulation file should reflect the updated network design with multiple border
routers for inter-campus communication and redundancy.

Documentation:
  Network Diagram: Clearly labelled topology diagram with IP addressing scheme,
device names, and multiple border routers for each sub-campus.
 VLAN Table: List of VLAN IDs and their corresponding department names,
including separate VLANs for wireless devices.
 IP Addressing Table: Detailed table of assigned IP ranges and subnets for the main
campus and sub-campuses with multiple public IP ranges for each sub-campus.
 Key Configuration Details:
 Switch configurations (e.g., trunking, VLAN assignments).
 Router configurations (e.g., OSPF, BGP, RIP for inter-campus routing).
 Server configurations (e.g., IP settings for HTTP, Email, FTP, and DNS
servers).
 Testing Results:
 Logs and screenshots from ping and tracert tests.
 Results from server access tests, including restricted and allowed access
based on ACLs and testing between sub-campuses.
 Redundancy Testing: Ensure the border routers for each sub-campus function
correctly with failover in case of a router failure

Open Ended Lab Assessment Rubrics

Needs
Criteria Excellent (7) Good (5-6) Satisfactory (3-4) Improvement (1- Poor (0)
2)
Well-structured,
clear, scalable design;
appropriate choice of Mostly clear
Functional design Disorganized or
devices; logical design; minor No coherent
but lacks clarity or unrealistic design;
Network Design separation of issues in device design; topology
scalability; some several
& Topology departments and sub- selection, incomplete or
devices/links not missing/incorrect
campuses; multiple scalability, or irrelevant.
clearly labeled. links or labels.
border routers and labeling.
inter-campus
connections.

Correct and efficient

subnetting/VLSM; no
overlaps; clear IP and Mostly correct Basic addressing
VLAN tables; IP scheme; works but may be Major addressing Addressing
IP Addressing & multiple public IPs minor mistakes inefficient; or VLAN errors; scheme invalid;
VLAN Planning for sub-campuses; or inefficiencies; VLANs partially connectivity only VLANs missing
VLANs properly VLANs mostly defined or not partially possible. or incorrect.
defined for each appropriate. fully justified.
department and
wireless devices.
Configuration & All required devices Most Core Incomplete Little or no
Implementation configured correctly configurations configurations configurations; correct
(routers, switches, correct; minor done; basic several parts of configuration;
servers, border issues with some connectivity the network not network not
routers, wireless services or present; some working. working.
devices); network routing but services or
 fully functional as per
the problem
statement. Includes overall network
features
multiple border largely
missing/incorrect.
routers for functional.
redundancy and load
balancing.

Comprehensive
testing; appropriate
use of commands
(ping, tracert, show, Adequate set of
Basic tests
etc.); issues identified tests; most major Minimal testing;
performed; at least No meaningful
and correctly issues found and issues detected
Testing & one issue testing;
resolved with clear resolved; minor but not properly
Troubleshooting identified and problems left
reasoning. Includes gaps in analyzed or
addressed; limited unresolved.
troubleshooting troubleshooting resolved.
justification.
between sub- detail.
campuses and
verification of border
routers' functionality.

Report is well-
structured and clear;
includes diagrams, Report mostly
tables, and complete and Documentation Poorly organized
explanations; understandable; present but lacks or incomplete No proper
Documentation configurations and minor formatting detail or documentation; documentation;
& Presentation results are easy to or clarity issues; organization; some difficult to work cannot be
follow and most required required elements understand; major evaluated.
professional. Updated elements missing. parts missing.
to reflect sub-campus included.
structure and multiple
border routers.