120 likes | 306 Views
Remote Networking Labs for Hands-on Exercises. James Yu, Ph.D. Scholl of CTI DePaul University jyu@cs.depaul.edu. General Problem Description. Limited resources (network labs) that need to be available to the students from any place (via the public Internet) at any time (24×7)
E N D
Remote Networking LabsforHands-on Exercises James Yu, Ph.D. Scholl of CTI DePaul University jyu@cs.depaul.edu DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
General Problem Description • Limited resources (network labs) that need to be available to the students from any place (via the public Internet) at any time (24×7) • The resource cannot be shared. Only one student can use one resource (network device) at a time while many students may try to access the resource (especially right before the assignment due time) at the same time. DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Needs and Challenges • Hands-on networking exercises are important for students learning. The lab practice confirms their understanding of the theories. • The school needs a networking environment that is available to the students 24×7, but it is impossible to staff lab assistants for it. • The school has a growing number of distance learning students who cannot be physically at the loop campus, but they also need hands-on experience. • Any time, any place, and always available. DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Solution: Remote Access Switch Environment Router Environment Windows Environment Linux Environment Private, Secure Lab LAN Terminal Server Linux Gateway Internet DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Example 1: Router Configuration Router3:2008 Router1:2006 Router2:2007 e0/0 e0/0 e0/1 e0/0 E0/1 e0/1 SW02 SW01 SW03 (1900) 192.168.1.5 Terminal Server 192.168.2.15 Linux-15 Internet Linux-05 (Gateway) DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Example 2: Switch Configuration Objective: Comparison of STP and RSTP configuration and performance. 192.168.1.5 172.26.1.5 SW01 192.168.1.1 Lab Gateway Linux-05 blocked 172.26.1.14 SW02 192.168.1.2 Linux-14 DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Example 3: Firewall Configuration SW02 SW03 192.168.1.7 SW01 192.168.1.6 192.168.1.5 192.168.3.15 140.192.40.7 140.192.40.5 192.168.3.6 Linux-15 Windows-7 Linux-05 Linux-06 Lab Access Gateway Router & Firewall Web Server Emulate Internet environment DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
New Challenges • Network device configuration can be performed by only one student at a time. • Some classes are large, up to 60 students. • If two students are configuring the same network device at the same time, they will interfere with each other. • There are cases students need shut down a connection to emulate a fail-over scenario. • We need a sign-up procedure that would restrict only one access to each lab session at a time. • Real-time lab log is required to monitor all student activities. DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Lab Scheduling Tool • The Linux gateway also maintains a lab scheduling tool. • Each student must reserve a lab session before accessing the lab. • Students can reserve and release a lab session from via a friendly web interface. • Only authenticated students can reserve a lab session and release his/her own session. • The tool allows only a fixed number of lab session for each student. So, a student cannot block too many sessions. • http://140.192.40.5/~labrequest Linux Gateway DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
On-line Access Control and Lab Log • The lab access is controlled by the Linux gateway. • Each student login access is logged on the Linux gateway. • Network device access (switch, router, firewall, etc.) is controlled by the modified telnet command which checks student ID before granting device access permission • Each telnet session is logged for monitoring purpose. Linux Gateway DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Remote Labs – Current Status • TDC363 – Introduction to Local Area Networks • TDC365 – Network Interconnction Technologies • TDC511 – Telecommunications Practicum • TDC564 – Local Area Networks • TDC566 – Broadband Access Technologies DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference
Acknowledgements • CTI Networking Labs Support: • Dr. Greg Brewster • Dr. Chonghua Zhang • Yongning Tang • Chibiao Liu • Quality for Instruction Council (QIC) Grant DePaul University - Teaching and Technology Conference