Planning the network topology
An essential step in building a network is developing a network topology. A network topology determines how lab components can be interconnected physically and logically, significantly influences data flows inside a network and sets requirements and limitations on network protocols usage.
Network segmentation is another important mechanism to think about in the planning stage. A network segmentation allows us to implement network management protocols to practice more network layer attacks, and it allows us to use integrated security features of network devices and dedicated network-based firewalls to provide better inter-segment isolation and network access control.
Thus, if you want to implement certain network protocols operating in a lab, which make sense with practicing certain attack types and provide security to the lab at the same time, we need to plan a segmental lab's network with several subnets and virtual LANs instead of just connecting all lab components...
