GNS3 Projects
GNS3 (Graphical Network Simulator-3) has been one of the most valuable tools in my network engineering journey. It gave me the ability to build, visualize, and test full-scale network topologies without needing racks of expensive equipment. By integrating real IOS images and virtual machines, I could replicate real-world conditions and push my designs to their limits, all in a controlled environment. This not only sharpened my technical skills but also allowed me to experiment freely with routing protocols, switching concepts, and advanced features in a way that books and theory alone could never provide.
Through countless lab sessions, GNS3 helped me refine my approach to designing and configuring both Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks. I used it to simulate enterprise environments, test redundancy designs with spanning tree and HSRP, validate routing policies with OSPF and BGP, and troubleshoot scenarios that mirror what I would later encounter in production networks. This hands-on practice made me much more confident in applying configurations, predicting outcomes, and diagnosing issues quickly. In short, GNS3 was more than just a learning tool—it was a safe proving ground that directly translated into stronger design instincts and better operational results in my career.