A cloud-based virtual computing laboratory for teaching computer networks

Author

Dinita, Razvan I. ; Wilson, George ; Winckles, Adrian ; Cirstea, Marcian ; Jones, Aled

Author_Institution

Anglia Ruskin Univ., Cambridge, UK

fYear

2012

fDate

24-26 May 2012

Firstpage

1314

Lastpage

1318

Abstract

This paper presents a novel `Cloud-based´ solution for teaching computer networks in an educational context. One key advantage of the system is its ability to commission and decommission virtual infrastructures comprised of routers, switches and virtual machines on demand. It makes use of hardware located in different physical locations, VMWare software to manage the virtual resources and NetLab+ to manage the configuration of multiple different virtual scenarios. The key features of the cloud infrastructure are described and evaluated.

Keywords

cloud computing; computer aided instruction; computer networks; computer science education; laboratories; network routing; student experiments; virtual machines; NetLab+; VMWare software; cloud infrastructure; cloud-based solution; cloud-based virtual computing laboratory; computer networks; configuration management; educational context; routers; switches; teaching; virtual infrastructure commissioning; virtual infrastructure decommissioning; virtual machines; virtual resource management; virtual scenario; Cloud computing; Educational institutions; Hardware; Laboratories; Security;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Optimization of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (OPTIM), 2012 13th International Conference on

Conference_Location

Brasov

ISSN

1842-0133

Print_ISBN

978-1-4673-1650-7

Electronic_ISBN

1842-0133

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OPTIM.2012.6231992

Filename

6231992