Week 8
Midterm Part 2 — LAN Merging
Merge two group LANs together and troubleshoot the conflicts that arise.
Lesson recap
This is the week reality kicks in. Two groups built two beautiful networks last week — both using 192.168.1.0/24, both with a PC called 'PC1.' Now you have to merge them. Mergers and acquisitions in the real world have exactly this problem: two IT departments, two address plans, two sets of naming conventions, and one new combined company that needs everything to ping by Monday. You'll renumber subnets, fix duplicate hostnames, add static routes if you need them, and most importantly — log every single change. The report is the deliverable; the working .pkt file is just the proof.
Learning goals
- Combine two Packet Tracer LANs
- Identify IP conflicts and duplicate addresses
- Re-plan the IP scheme
- Resolve routing between merged sections
- Document the merge and troubleshooting steps
Key terms
IP Conflict
Two devices configured with the same IP — neither communicates reliably.
Static Route
A manually-defined route entry in a router's routing table.
Default Route
Where to send packets that don't match any other route (0.0.0.0/0).
Troubleshooting Log
Time-stamped record of issues found and the action taken to fix them.
Curated videos
What is Subnetting? — Subnetting Mastery
Practical Networking
IP Address — IPv4 vs IPv6 Tutorial
PowerCert Animated Videos
Checkpoint checklist
Sign in to save your progress across devices.
- LAN files merged
- Conflicts identified
- IPs reassigned
- Full ping test passed
- Midterm Part 2 report submitted
- Saved required evidence
- Answered the reflection questions
Pro tips from the instructor
- ★Don't try to keep both old IP schemes. Re-plan ONE new scheme that covers both LANs and migrate to it.
- ★Rename devices BEFORE renumbering — confusion compounds otherwise.
- ★If a ping fails after merging, test in this order: link light, IP/mask on both ends, gateway, router route, then DNS.
Try this — stretch exercises
Optional hands-on practice that goes beyond the workbook. Check items off as you complete them — progress saves in this browser.
0/1
- After the merge works, intentionally break one route on the router and time how long it takes a teammate to find it.
Files to save this week
- 📁 Week08_MergedLAN_GroupNumber.pkt
- 📁 Week08_MidtermPart2_Report_GroupNumber