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network-101 — Claude Code skill: lab network services, setup

A skill that walks the agent through standing up and testing HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP and SMB in a pentest lab, from service config to log analysis.

Install into Claude Code · Skills CLI (Vercel) All methods and platforms ↓
npx skills add zebbern/claude-code-guide --skill network-101 -a claude-code
Open on GitHub

What network-101 does

The skill covers deploying common network services on Windows Server or Linux and checking them from Kali Linux. It walks through Apache and IIS on port 80, a self-signed certificate and SSL virtual host on 443, snmpd with community strings on 161, and Samba shares on 445. Each service comes with verification commands: curl, nmap, openssl s_client, snmpwalk, smbclient, enum4linux.

There is a separate section on logs. The agent can show you how to read Apache access.log and error.log, grep for POST requests, and pull user agents with awk. A port table and a list of enumeration tools round it out.

Know the limits the skill itself states: a self-signed certificate triggers browser warnings, SNMP v1/v2c sends community strings in cleartext, and anonymous SMB access is often disabled by default. Firewall rules have to allow inbound connections, and the lab should stay isolated from production. You need administrative access to the target host and a working grasp of IP addressing and ports.

What it helps with

  • stand up an HTTP server on port 80 as a lab target
  • issue a self-signed certificate and enable HTTPS
  • configure SNMP community strings and run enumeration
  • expose an SMB share with different permission levels
  • read Apache logs for POST requests and user agents

Example prompts for the agent

  • set up Apache on port 80 and drop in a test page
  • configure snmpd with the public community and verify it with snmpwalk
  • create an anonymous SMB share and connect with smbclient

How to install network-101

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add zebbern/claude-code-guide --skill network-101 -a claude-code

2Manually: put the files in place

~/.claude/skills/network-101/SKILL.md

Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/network-101/

Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways

Questions about network-101

How do I install network-101 in Claude?

Run npx skills add zebbern/claude-code-guide --skill network-101 -a claude-code. The skill lands in ~/.claude/skills/network-101/SKILL.md.

What does network-101 do?

It guides the agent through configuring HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP and SMB for a pentest lab, and supplies verification and enumeration commands for each service.

What are the constraints?

Self-signed certificates trigger browser warnings, SNMP v1/v2c transmits community strings in cleartext, and anonymous SMB access is usually off by default. Keep the lab away from production.

Source text

SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: network-101
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "set up a web server", "configure HTTP or HTTPS", "perform SNMP enumeration", "configure SMB shares", "test network services", or needs guidance on configuring and testing network services for penetration testing labs.
metadata:
  author: zebbern
  version: "1.1"
---

# Network 101

## Purpose

Configure and test common network services (HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP, SMB) for penetration testing lab environments. Enable hands-on practice with service enumeration, log analysis, and security testing against properly configured target systems.

## Inputs/Prerequisites

- Windows Server or Linux system for hosting services
- Kali Linux or similar for testing
- Administrative access to target system
- Basic networking knowledge (IP addressing, ports)
- Firewall access for port configuration

## Outputs/Deliverables

- Configured HTTP/HTTPS web server
- SNMP service with accessible communities
- SMB file shares with various permission levels
- Captured logs for analysis
- Documented enumeration results

## Core Workflow

### 1. Configure HTTP Server (Port 80)

Set up a basic HTTP web server for testing:

**Windows IIS Setup:**
1. Open IIS Manager (Internet Information Services)
2. Right-click Sites → Add Website
3. Configure site name and physical path
4. Bind to IP address and port 80

**Linux Apache Setup:**

```bash
# Install Apache
sudo apt update && sudo apt install apache2

# Start service
sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2

# Create test page
echo "<html><body><h1>Test Page</h1></body></html>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/index.html

# Verify service
curl http://localhost
```

**Configure Firewall for HTTP:**

```bash
# Linux (UFW)
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp

# Windows PowerShell
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "HTTP" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 80 -Action Allow
```

### 2. Configure HTTPS Server (Port 443)

Set up secure HTTPS with SSL/TLS:

**Generate Self-Signed Certificate:**

```bash
# Linux - Generate certificate
sudo openssl req -x509 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:2048 \
  -keyout /etc/ssl/private/apache-selfsigned.key \
  -out /etc/ssl/certs/apache-selfsigned.crt

# Enable SSL module
sudo a2enmod ssl
sudo systemctl restart apache2
```

**Configure Apache for HTTPS:**

```bash
# Edit SSL virtual host
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/default-ssl.conf

# Enable site
sudo a2ensite default-ssl
sudo systemctl reload apache2
```

**Verify HTTPS Setup:**

```bash
# Check port 443 is open
nmap -p 443 192.168.1.1

# Test SSL connection
openssl s_client -connect 192.168.1.1:443

# Check certificate
curl -kv https://192.168.1.1
```

### 3. Configure SNMP Service (Port 161)

Set up SNMP for enumeration practice:

**Linux SNMP Setup:**

```bash
# Install SNMP daemon
sudo apt install snmpd snmp

# Configure community strings
sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

# Add these lines:
# rocommunity public
# rwcommunity private

# Restart service
sudo systemctl restart snmpd
```

**Windows SNMP Setup:**
1. Open Server Manager → Add Features
2. Select SNMP Service
3. Configure community strings in Services → SNMP Service → Properties

**SNMP Enumeration Commands:**

```bash
# Basic SNMP walk
snmpwalk -c public -v1 192.168.1.1

# Enumerate system info
snmpwalk -c public -v1 192.168.1.1 1.3.6.1.2.1.1

# Get running processes
snmpwalk -c public -v1 192.168.1.1 1.3.6.1.2.1.25.4.2.1.2

# SNMP check tool
snmp-check 192.168.1.1 -c public

# Brute force community strings
onesixtyone -c /usr/share/seclists/Discovery/SNMP/common-snmp-community-strings.txt 192.168.1.1
```

### 4. Configure SMB Service (Port 445)

Set up SMB file shares for enumeration:

**Windows SMB Share:**
1. Create folder to share
2. Right-click → Properties → Sharing → Advanced Sharing
3. Enable sharing and set permissions
4. Configure NTFS permissions

**Linux Samba Setup:**

```bash
# Install Samba
sudo apt install samba

# Create share directory
sudo mkdir -p /srv/samba/share
sudo chmod 777 /srv/samba/share

# Configure Samba
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

# Add share:
# [public]
#    path = /srv/samba/share
#    browsable = yes
#    guest ok = yes
#    read only = no

# Restart service
sudo systemctl restart smbd
```

**SMB Enumeration Commands:**

```bash
# List shares anonymously
smbclient -L //192.168.1.1 -N

# Connect to share
smbclient //192.168.1.1/share -N

# Enumerate with smbmap
smbmap -H 192.168.1.1

# Full enumeration
enum4linux -a 192.168.1.1

# Check for vulnerabilities
nmap --script smb-vuln* 192.168.1.1
```

### 5. Analyze Service Logs

Review logs for security analysis:

**HTTP/HTTPS Logs:**

```bash
# Apache access log
sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/access.log

# Apache error log
sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

# Windows IIS logs
# Location: C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles\W3SVC1\
```

**Parse Log for Credentials:**

```bash
# Search for POST requests
grep "POST" /var/log/apache2/access.log

# Extract user agents
awk '{print $12}' /var/log/apache2/access.log | sort | uniq -c
```

## Quick Reference

### Essential Ports

| Service | Port | Protocol |
|---------|------|----------|
| HTTP | 80 | TCP |
| HTTPS | 443 | TCP |
| SNMP | 161 | UDP |
| SMB | 445 | TCP |
| NetBIOS | 137-139 | TCP/UDP |

### Service Verification Commands

```bash
# Check HTTP
curl -I http://target

# Check HTTPS
curl -kI https://target

# Check SNMP
snmpwalk -c public -v1 target

# Check SMB
smbclient -L //target -N
```

### Common Enumeration Tools

| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| nmap | Port scanning and scripts |
| nikto | Web vulnerability scanning |
| snmpwalk | SNMP enumeration |
| enum4linux | SMB/NetBIOS enumeration |
| smbclient | SMB connection |
| gobuster | Directory brute forcing |

## Constraints

- Self-signed certificates trigger browser warnings
- SNMP v1/v2c communities transmit in cleartext
- Anonymous SMB access is often disabled by default
- Firewall rules must allow inbound connections
- Lab environments should be isolated from production

## Examples

### Example 1: Complete HTTP Lab Setup

```bash
# Install and configure
sudo apt install apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2

# Create login page
cat << 'EOF' | sudo tee /var/www/html/login.html
<html>
<body>
<form method="POST" action="login.php">
Username: <input type="text" name="user"><br>
Password: <input type="password" name="pass"><br>
<input type="submit" value="Login">
</form>
</body>
</html>
EOF

# Allow through firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
```

### Example 2: SNMP Testing Setup

```bash
# Quick SNMP configuration
sudo apt install snmpd
echo "rocommunity public" | sudo tee -a /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf
sudo systemctl restart snmpd

# Test enumeration
snmpwalk -c public -v1 localhost
```

### Example 3: SMB Anonymous Access

```bash
# Configure anonymous share
sudo apt install samba
sudo mkdir /srv/samba/anonymous
sudo chmod 777 /srv/samba/anonymous

# Test access
smbclient //localhost/anonymous -N
```

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Port not accessible | Check firewall rules (ufw, iptables, Windows Firewall) |
| Service not starting | Check logs with `journalctl -u service-name` |
| SNMP timeout | Verify UDP 161 is open, check community string |
| SMB access denied | Verify share permissions and user credentials |
| HTTPS certificate error | Accept self-signed cert or add to trusted store |
| Cannot connect remotely | Bind service to 0.0.0.0 instead of localhost |

© zebbern · MIT · zebbern/claude-code-guide

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