A Network-Computing Infrastructure for Tool Experimentation Applied to Computer Architecture Education

Computer architects increasingly depend on the use of software tools to evaluate and investigate the design of computer systems. It is therefore very important that educators in this eld promote extensive tool-based student experimentation in architecture classes. However, the integration of today's complex architecture tools into curricula poses several challenges to an instructor, including managementofpowerful computing resources, software installation and maintenance, and development of tool-speci c educational material. This paper describes how these challenges are addressed by a universally accessible network-computing infrastructure- NETCARE- that provides educators with a Web portal to access computing resources, executable tools and educational material.