A Hybrid Software Defined Network Platform for Undergraduate Research and Education

Software Defined Networks (SDNs) are leading the evolution toward network programmability and open architectures. While many corporations, nonprofits, and individuals have developed training on SDNs, the industry has a significant gap with the robustness of entrenched traditional network educational models, such as Cisco’s Networking Academy. The Department of Defense (DoD) will likely adopt some form of SDN into its global transport network at various tiers and authority boundaries. It is imperative for 21st century leaders to understand how and why the manner in which DoD provides Information Technology (IT) services to its customers is changing with such rapidity. Therefore, we developed three basic SDN course lessons as a base of knowledge and support and integrated a hybrid physical SDN research platform into existing laboratory infrastructure for faculty research and capstone projects for senior cadets. This was accomplished by leveraging existing SDN-related tutorials and resources and integrating them within a virtualized SDN simulation environment. The three lessons were developed for integration into our core networking course that describes fundamental networking concepts in the context of an SDN - with a centralized control plane, while ensuring lesson learning objectives were achievable by non-technical majors yet sufficiently comprehensive across the fundamental operations of an SDN. The hybrid research platform consists of a number of Virtual Machines (VMs) running Mininet1 - an SDN simulation environment - and hosted on a VMware vSphere cluster with direct connectivity to twelve physical openflow-capable switches. This will allow students in the networking course to plan, design, implement, and test a basic SDN topology in either a virtual, physical, or hybrid environment. In addition, it will provide topological and experimental flexibility to student and faculty researchers and senior capstone project teams alike

To enhance collaborative learning and practice network knowledge with a virtualization laboratory and online synchronous discussion

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internatinal License.Recently, various computer networking courses have included additional laboratory classes in order to enhance students' learning achievement. However, these classes need to establish a suitable laboratory where each student can connect network devices to configure and test functions within different network topologies. In this case, the Linux operating system can be used to operate network devices and the virtualization technique can include multiple OSs for supporting a significant number of students. In previous research, the virtualization application was successfully applied in a laboratory, but focused only on individual assignments. The present study extends previous research by designing the Networking Virtualization-Based Laboratory (NVBLab), which requires collaborative learning among the experimental students. The students were divided into an experimental group and a control group for the experiment. The experimental group performed their laboratory assignments using NVBLab, whereas the control group completed them on virtual machines (VMs) that were installed on their personal computers. Moreover, students using NVBLab were provided with an online synchronous discussion (OSD) feature that enabled them to communicate with others. The laboratory assignments were divided into two parts: Basic Labs and Advanced Labs. The results show that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in two Advanced Labs and the post-test after Advanced Labs. Furthermore, the experimental group's activities were better than those of the control group based on the total average of the command count per laboratory. Finally, the findings of the interviews and questionnaires with the experimental group reveal that NVBLab was helpful during and after laboratory class

Introducing industrial computer networks into the curriculum through a partner informed case study

Today an increasing number of systems and devices are being interconnected. The popular perception of this Internet of Things is of domestic appliances existing in comfortable or air conditioned environments connected to the Internet. However many systems that need to be interconnected exist in harsh environments such as extremes of temperature or in hostile environmental conditions, for example railway trackside equipment, utility plants or even at the bottom of an ocean. The network devices employed in these systems must operate in such harsh conditions. Westermo Data Communications manufactures networking equipment of this nature, for what we might refer to as the field of Industrial Networking. There is increasing demand for personnel with the experience and expertise in the design, implementation and management of these industrial networking systems. This represents an opportunity for the future employability of students enrolled on the computer networking degree programme at Southampton Solent University. Westermo has partnered with the University to help develop the unique industrial networking skills required by this sector through means of a case study based on a real world industrial networking scenario. This paper discusses how students developed solutions to the case study based on research supported by practical experience with Westermo equipment and informed by supporting material from their own teaching programme. Students also have the opportunity to gain Westermo certification to provide supporting evidence of expertise in this area

Developing High Performance Computing Resources for Teaching Cluster and Grid Computing courses

High-Performance Computing (HPC) and the ability to process large amounts of data are of paramount importance for UK business and economy as outlined by Rt Hon David Willetts MP at the HPC and Big Data conference in February 2014. However there is a shortage of skills and available training in HPC to prepare and expand the workforce for the HPC and Big Data research and development. Currently, HPC skills are acquired mainly by students and staff taking part in HPC-related research projects, MSc courses, and at the dedicated training centres such as Edinburgh University’s EPCC. There are few UK universities teaching the HPC, Clusters and Grid Computing courses at the undergraduate level. To address the issue of skills shortages in the HPC it is essential to provide teaching and training as part of both postgraduate and undergraduate courses. The design and development of such courses is challenging since the technologies and software in the fields of large scale distributed systems such as Cluster, Cloud and Grid computing are undergoing continuous change. The students completing the HPC courses should be proficient in these evolving technologies and equipped with practical and theoretical skills for future jobs in this fast developing area. In this paper we present our experience in developing the HPC, Cluster and Grid modules including a review of existing HPC courses offered at the UK universities. The topics covered in the modules are described, as well as the coursework projects based on practical laboratory work. We conclude with an evaluation based on our experience over the last ten years in developing and delivering the HPC modules on the undergraduate courses, with suggestions for future work

A Web-Based Distributed Virtual Educational Laboratory

Evolution and cost of measurement equipment, continuous training, and distance learning make it difficult to provide a complete set of updated workbenches to every student. For a preliminary familiarization and experimentation with instrumentation and measurement procedures, the use of virtual equipment is often considered more than sufficient from the didactic point of view, while the hands-on approach with real instrumentation and measurement systems still remains necessary to complete and refine the student's practical expertise. Creation and distribution of workbenches in networked computer laboratories therefore becomes attractive and convenient. This paper describes specification and design of a geographically distributed system based on commercially standard components

IREEL: remote experimentation with real protocols and applications over emulated network

This paper presents a novel e-learning platform called IREEL. IREEL is a virtual laboratory allowing students to drive experiments with real Internet applications and end-to-end protocols in the context of networking courses. This platform consists in a remote network emulator offering a set of predefined applications and protocol mechanisms. Experimenters configure and control the emulation and the end-systems behavior in order to perform tests, measurements and observations on protocols or applications operating under controlled specific networking conditions. A set of end-to-end mechanisms, mainly focusing on transport and application level protocols, are currently available. IREEL is scalable and easy to use thanks to an ergonomic web interface

E-consulting of Small and Medium Agribusiness Enterprises: The case of eEurope Godigital application into the Peloponnese Region

This study describes the design and development of a web-based electronic training system aiming at business operations of small and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises (SMAEs). The proposed system will meet current and future needs of SMAEs for timely, accurate, and customised training removing the barriers of geographical solitude and economies of scale. The objectives of this system are: (a) to offer training and consultancy to SMAEs on how to use information and communication technologies as business tools in order to improve their operations and gain competitive advantage (b) to provide education material customised to the special needs of each SMAE, (c) to provide on-line training, advice and consultancy using special-trained operators, and (d) to provide on-line training, advice and consultancy by skilled operators who have been trained to offer those services. ETS will be an Internet-based system. The system will operate as a third-party trusted intermediate between SMAEs, consultants, and content providers. The system design will be extended to cover the needs of the programme "Training support for Go-Digital Project" funded by Greek Ministry of Development which aims to offer training and support in the usage of Internet services to 50.000 SMEs