Using Virtual Machines in System Administration Education

2013 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), 2013

Virtualization tools, useful softwares that enables tests and evaluation of functionalities, have been used in computer network classes to provide an environment for practice experiments. Although some papers describe these tools and their technical benefits, they do not provide quantitative information about its effectiveness. This paper presents a proposal for systematic use of this category of tools in computer classes and a evaluation of the Netkit tool use in computer network classes. It will be shown how tutorial sections have been developed to these courses, the receptivity from the students through surveys and a statistical analysis of how much students grades can be improved by applying such tutorials. Finally, it will be possible to conclude that, in fact, the use of such tools is strongly advised.

In this paper, we have tried to fill up the gap that we found in related research work that primarily focusses on the use of various virtualization tools, their advantages and challenges from an organizational and management perspective. We developed a questionnaire to collect data from the students of various age groups doing various levels of computer networking courses. Views of students were collected about whether the virtualization has helped them in developing necessary skills and learning of the computer networking concepts or not or up to what level these virtualization tools are helpful. Our objective was to address the student's point of view towards learning networking courses using virtualization tools. In this paper we have identified that the virtualization tools have greatly helped students in learning computer networking concepts, the students who had just finished high school, found virtualization very interesting and helpful in learning networking however the students who had completed bachelor degrees or had some networking experience were not as satisfied.

Proceedings of the sixth conference …, 2004

2008

In this paper is being described a possible use of virtualization technology in teaching computer networks. The virtualization can be used as a suitable tool for creating virtual network laboratories, supplementing the real laboratories and network simulation software in teaching networking concepts. It will be given a short description of characteristic projects in the area of virtualization technology usage in network simulation, network experiments and engineering education. A method for implementing laboratory has also been explained, together with possible laboratory usage and design of laboratory exercises. At the end, the laboratory test results of virtual laboratory are presented as well.

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

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 comission and decomission 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. I.

2008

ABSTRACT This paper describes an approach to teaching networks and information security that gives the learner the opportunity to capture and document individual messages (packets) in order to gain an intuitive and technical understanding of how a network functions. Collaboration is designed into the approach so that students work together in the capture and documentation process. Students manipulate the network to obtain the results they see.

ACM Sigcse Bulletin, 2004

User Mode Linux is a virtual machine running on a GNU-Linux operating system. It is the right choice for teaching operating systems' administration, as it does not need any dedicated hardware. It runs at user level (no need for root, i.e. administrator, access or possible security threats) and it does not have the performance problems of an emulator. This paper describes how to set up a laboratory for teaching operating systems' administration.

2010

Abstract―We discuss benefits of different virtual and virtualization technologies applied in higher education. Virtual worlds can be used in most courses, independently on the branch of science: learning materials can be presented in 3D virtual world where avatars representing users can access them, online events can be organized there etc. Virtualization technologies are applicable in technically-related courses, typically in courses of computer networks.

This paper describes how a generic computer laboratory equipped with 52 workstations is set up for teaching IT-related courses and other general purpose usage. The authors have successfully constructed a lab management system based on decentralised, client-side software virtualisation technology using Linux and free software tools from VMware that fulfils the requirements of fast "switch over" time between consecutive lab sessions, the ability to support a wide range of IT courses and usage scenarios, low cost, easy maintenance, and a sandboxed environment for potentially disruptive IT security lab exercises. Sufficient implementation details are provided so that readers can build a similar lab management system. The objective is to share ideas and experiences that may be useful for lab administrators in academic institutions facing the same requirements and budgetary constraints.