CenLavi: Virtual Computer Network Laboratory

In this paper we describe the Virtual Computer Network Laboratory (CenLavi), which is a virtual computer and computer network laboratory that enables the move of physical, location and time bound, practical learning sessions into a cloud environment. The demand and development of ubiquitous education around the world has created a requirement for low cost systems, which enable lecturers and students to participate directly and easily using a web-browser while removing temporal and spatial boundaries, and the need for expensive hardware. This requirement is more complicated for practical labs which need to be performed on computers, and where these student-managed computers are perhaps even required to interact. CenLavi is proposed as an open-source solution for the above scenario. CenLavi is a cloud computing system which is designed and prototyped based on selective open-source cloud computing techniques, and custom-build web-based interface, which provides for both students and staff an easy-to-use and friendly user experience. CenLavi supports a diverse set of practical labs; from basic situations where a student works with one virtual machine to more complex ones that enable work in a dynamic virtual network environment with virtual networks, network equipment and systems. This flexibility supports educational activities to be rolled-out more efficiently and economically.