The Scenario
You have no IT work experience, but you have a router, a couple of devices, and access to free virtualisation software. SA IT support hiring managers consistently say a documented home lab is the single strongest proof an entry-level candidate can show.
The Brief
Set up a small home network. Configure at minimum: a static IP on one device, port forwarding on the router, and a virtual machine. Then document the entire setup as if you were handing it over to a new IT support technician.
Deliverables
- A network topology diagram showing devices, IP scheme, subnet, gateway, and DNS configuration
- An asset register listing every device, its role, OS, IP, MAC, and purpose
- A configuration document explaining the router settings, the VM setup, and any firewall rules
- A simulated incident: pick one realistic failure (e.g., DHCP exhaustion, port conflict, DNS misconfiguration), describe the symptoms, and walk through how you would diagnose and resolve it
Submission Guidance
Hiring managers do not need exotic hardware. A laptop, a phone, a router, and a free hypervisor (VirtualBox, Hyper-V) is enough. The quality of the documentation matters more than the complexity of the setup.
Submit Your Work
Your submission is graded against the rubric on the right. If you pass, you get a public Badge URL you can share on LinkedIn. There is no draft save, so work offline first and paste your finished response here.