Lab on Thoughts and Ramblings by Mikehttps://mikedent.io/tags/lab/Recent content in Lab on Thoughts and Ramblings by MikeHugo -- gohugo.ioenMike DentWed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400Why Cisco Modeling Labs Earned a Permanent Spot in My Workflowhttps://mikedent.io/post/2026/4/cisco-modeling-labs-workflow/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400https://mikedent.io/post/2026/4/cisco-modeling-labs-workflow/ <p>If you are a network engineer who has ever stared down a change window and wished you could test the exact topology before touching production, this post is for you. I want to walk through why Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) has become one of the most used tools in my day to day, and how it has shaped the way I approach design, migrations, and team enablement. The short version: a sandbox that mirrors real gear means fewer surprises at 2 AM, faster validation on design work, and a safer way to bring the next engineer up to speed.</p>