Remote Networking Labs for Hands-on Exercises

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Remote Networking LabsforHands-on Exercises

• James Yu, Ph.D.
• Scholl of CTI
• DePaul University
• jyu_at_cs.depaul.edu

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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 (247)
• 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.

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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 247, 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.

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Solution Remote Access
Switch Environment
Router Environment
Windows Environment
Linux Environment
Private, Secure Lab LAN
Terminal Server
Linux Gateway
Internet
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Example 1 Router Configuration
Router32008
Router12006
Router22007
e0/0
e0/0
e0/0
e0/1
E0/1
e0/1
SW02
SW03 (1900)
SW01
192.168.1.5
Terminal Server
192.168.2.15 Linux-15
Internet
Linux-05 (Gateway)
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Example 2 Switch Configuration
Objective Comparison of STP and RSTP
configuration and performance.
172.26.1.5
192.168.1.5
SW01 192.168.1.1
Lab Gateway
Linux-05
blocked
172.26.1.14
SW02 192.168.1.2
Linux-14
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Example 3 Firewall Configuration
SW02
SW03
192.168.1.7
SW01
192.168.1.6
192.168.1.5
192.168.3.15
192.168.3.6
140.192.40.5
140.192.40.7
Linux-15
Linux-05
Linux-06
Windows-7
Router Firewall
Web Server Emulate Internet environment
Lab Access Gateway
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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.

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Lab Scheduling Tool

1. The Linux gateway also maintains a lab scheduling
   tool.
2. Each student must reserve a lab session before
   accessing the lab.
3. Students can reserve and release a lab session
   from via a friendly web interface.
4. Only authenticated students can reserve a lab
   session and release his/her own session.
5. The tool allows only a fixed number of lab
   session for each student. So, a student cannot
   block too many sessions.
6. http//140.192.40.5/labrequest

Linux Gateway
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On-line Access Control and Lab Log

1. The lab access is controlled by the Linux
   gateway.
2. Each student login access is logged on the Linux
   gateway.
3. Network device access (switch, router, firewall,
   etc.) is controlled by the modified telnet
   command which checks student ID before granting
   device access permission
4. Each telnet session is logged for monitoring
   purpose.

Linux Gateway
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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

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Acknowledgements

• CTI Networking Labs Support
• Dr. Greg Brewster
• Dr. Chonghua Zhang
• Yongning Tang
• Chibiao Liu
• Quality for Instruction Council (QIC) Grant