Understanding and Operating the Internet

A Hands-on Networking Lab

Why This Lab is Different

Go beyond theory and build real-world skills.

Earn a University Certificate

Receive an official certificate from the University of Crete, a valuable credential for your professional profile.

100% Hands-On

Forget dry lectures. You'll spend your time configuring, troubleshooting, and building networks in our unique Mini-Internet lab.

Expert-Led

Learn from instructors with years of experience in both academia and the networking industry.

Who Is This Lab For?

Whether you're starting out or leveling up, this lab is for you.

Students & Recent Grads

Gain the practical experience that employers are looking for and stand out from the crowd.

The Curious Minds

If you've ever wondered how the internet *really* works, this is your chance to see under the hood.

IT Professionals

Upskill from system administration or helpdesk roles into the world of network engineering.

Aspiring Network Engineers

Build a strong, practical foundation that goes far beyond what certification guides can teach.

What You'll Master

A curriculum designed for practical application.

1. The Mini-Internet Lab

Get acquainted with our unique hands-on platform, a scaled-down version of the real internet. You'll have your own virtual routers, switches, and networks to command.

Access your personal virtual lab environment.
Learn basic commands and router configuration.
Understand network topologies and diagramming.

2. Intra-Domain Routing

Learn how routers within a single network (an Autonomous System) share information and find the best paths for traffic.

Static Routing: Manually define paths between routers.
Dynamic Routing with OSPF: Configure and troubleshoot the Open Shortest Path First protocol.
Virtual LANs (VLANs) and Trunking.

3. Inter-Domain Routing

Connect your network to the wider internet. This is where you'll learn how different networks across the globe talk to each other.

iBGP & eBGP: Master the Border Gateway Protocol for internal and external peering.
AS Interconnection: Establish connections between different Autonomous Systems.
BGP Policies: Learn to influence routing decisions and control traffic flow.

Master the Building Blocks of the Internet

You'll work with the same open-source tools trusted by network engineers worldwide.

Linux

FRR

Docker

Learn from Industry & Academic Experts

Our instructors are active in the networking community.

Xenofontas Dimitropoulos

Professor, University of Crete

Leading the INSPIRE group. His work on Internet measurements led to co-founding Code BGP, a startup acquired by Cisco. He has received multiple ERC grants and best paper awards.

Emmanouil Lakiotakis

PhD Candidate, University of Crete

Researcher at FORTH-ICS, focusing on Software Defined Networks (SDN) and routing optimization. Manages the Mini-Internet platform and has extensive teaching experience with multiple publications.

Aikaterini Lionta

MSc Student, University of Crete

CCNA certified with internship experience at Cisco. Her research focuses on the BGP protocol and Internet topology. She is a teaching assistant for the Computer Networks course and has presented at RIPE and GRNOG.

Antonis Chatzivasileiou