Computer resources as a cloud lab service

A prototype of a remote lab for providing cloud computer resources in optimal manner to achieve an infrastructure lab service is discussed. It has the ability to offer training sessions for different operating systems and networking techniques that are used to build hybrid IT infrastructure solutions. Topologies consisting of machine servers equipped with different operating systems such as Linux, Windows, Solaris etc. that are coupled with each other through different network components and devices, presents an IT infrastructure solution. Such a laboratory will solve many of the problems facing students in developing countries, as academic institutions are not equipped with the appropriate platforms and network components for teaching IT. Moreover, IT departments of business enterprises or IT academic institutions will save big amounts of money as there is no necessity to purchase such expensive systems. Currently, the first prototype is being built using VMware ESX server, VMware vSphere client, GNS3, among others. The development environments used have the capability to manage large pools of virtualized computing infrastructure, including software and hardware. The research is also aimed at carrying out a comparative evaluation to measure some pedagogic and usability criteria.