Lab 21: Verifying Cisco HDLC Encapsulation

Lab Objective:

The objective of this lab exercise is to verify Cisco HDLC encapsulation, which is the default
encapsulation method for WAN interfaces on Cisco IOS routers.

Lab Purpose:

Cisco HDLC verification is a fundamental skill. Cisco HDLC encapsulation is the default
encapsulation on all Cisco router Serial interfaces. As a Cisco engineer, as well as in the
Cisco CCNA exam, you will be expected to know how to verify Cisco HDLC encapsulation.

Certification Level:

This lab is suitable for both CCENT and CCNA certification exam preparation

Lab Difficulty:

This lab has a difficulty rating of 5/10

Readiness Assessment:

When you are ready for your certification exam, you should complete this lab in no more
than 10 minutes

Lab Topology:

Please use the following topology to complete this lab exercise:

Task 1:

Configure the hostnames on routers R1 and R2 as illustrated in the topology.

Task 2:

Enable the Serial interfaces on R1 and R2. The Serial0/0 interface on R2 is identified as the
DCE in the topology. Configure the DCE interface on R2 to providing clocking to R1. The
clock speed should be 256Kbps. Remember that 1Kbps = 1000bps. Verify that R2 is sending
clocking information and that R1 receives this information from R2.

Task 3:
Configure IP addressing on R1 and R2 Serial0/0 interfaces as illustrated in the topology.
Verify your interface encapsulation, which should be HDLC by default.

Task 4:

Enable debugging on the Cisco router to validate HDLC keepalive messages are being sent
between the two routers. Ensure that you disable debugging when you are complete. Verify
that HDLC messages are sent in the keepalive interval that is listed under the interface,
which should be approximately every 10 seconds.