Remotely accessible computer network laboratory with hands-on experience

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a remotely accessible and platform-independent computer network laboratory. We have integrated two network standards namely IPKVM and VLAN to create a flexible and expandable laboratory system for remote students. Students located at remote sites were able to seamlessly conduct hands-on experiments and collaborate with their classmates. A survey was conducted among the students who enrolled in the “Introduction to Computer Networks laboratory” course at Illinois Institute of Technology. The results show that students can complete the lab experiments efficiently, and the remote framework does not impose any barrier in conducting experiments and consequently does not degrade the quality of their education. The system developed in our institution can be used for other laboratory courses such as computer networking security and system administration.