TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE COMPUTER

NETWORKING INSTRUCTION

Herb Brown

Appalachian State University

State of Networking Instruction

Many programs are adding networking instruction

Networking instruction is not as prevalent as it should be

More robust Networking competencies in National Standards (© 2007)

Students are interested in computer networking

Potential Barriers to Implementation Cost of hardware and software

ServersNetworking Operating SystemsNetwork Utilities

Intimidating Topic Lack of knowledge of networking Lab limitations IT Staff barriers Decide to just DO IT!

Strategies for Teaching Networking Theory

LectureDiscussion

Application (software)LectureDiscussionHANDS-ON

Tools to Facilitate Instruction VIRTUALIZATION tools Free/reduced cost software Vendor-specific programs Open Source Products Donations

Virtualization Defined

Virtualization is a term that refers to the abstraction of resources across many aspects of computing

For our discussion – One physical machine to support multiple virtual machines that run in parallel

Multiple operating systems running in parallel on one host computer.

Why use Virtualization?

Desktop/LabExplore multiple operating systems on one

machineExplore ALL aspects of an OS and its

configuration (including BIOS/CMOS)New software development and testing

(multiple platforms)Flexibility of software use, install,

configuration for lab settings

Requirements for Virtualization

DesktopHigher RAMFast drives, fast I/O (SATA II, SCSI, etc.)Multi-processor supporting virtualization

○ IntelDual-coreCore 2 DuoQuad Corei7 core

○ AMD multi-core chip equivalent○ Look at Chip specs for “virtualization” support

Software for Virtualization Desktop

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 (Free, Windows)VMWARE server (GSX-Free)VMWARE Workstation ($$$)VirtualBox (Windows, Linux, Mac, OpenSolaris)

Server-levelXenServer (now FREE)VMWARE server (GSX-Free-Linux,Windows)Hyper-V 2008 (Windows Server 2008)OpenVZ (Linux, open-source similar to Virtuozzo)

Where to find the software Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 –

http://www.microsoft.com/virtualpc VirtualBox – http://www.virtualbox.org VMWare Server (formerly GSX) –

http://www.vmware.com XEN 3.0 – http://www.xensource.com OpenVZ (branch from commercial

Virtuozzo product) – http://openvz.org

Process to Implement Virtualization Install Virtualization software Create a virtual machine

Shared memory settingsNetwork settings and Virtual machine access to

network resourcesVideo settingsHard drive configurations

○ Fixed space (complete space allocation)○ Dynamic disk sizing

Undo features/functionality Start the Virtual Machine, mount ISO and

complete installation as normal.

Logistics

Once Virtual machine is installed it consists of only a few files (Two with Virtual PC)

To replicate to multiple machines, just copy the files to other machines (batch files, configuration management software, etc.)

When complete, DELETE the files associated with Virtual Machine

Future Virtualization will continue to increase and mature Forrester Research survey shows 51% of North

American companies polled are using or piloting server virtualization1

New technologies such as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (from VMWare)Similar to thin-client technology but more flexible and

fewer limitations Virtualization technology embedded in the

Operating system to support quick recovery or virtualizing browsing sessions (Vista & Server 2008)

1 NetworkWorld Executive Guide: Virtualization meets reality, whitepaper available: http://www.apc.com

What it means for the Business Education Classroom

If we are not using it as a teaching tool in Networking classes … we SHOULD be

We should be Teaching HOW to setup virtualized environments and how to determine ROI, and evaluate virtual technologies – especially in networking courses

This is not a fad, it is a trend that will continue

Other uses for Virtualization in the Business Education Classroom

Web development courses – show web server administration (virtualized server)

Classes demonstrating Operating Systems Programming/Development Software experimentation Legacy DOS apps – run in VM Practice configuring Operating system and

Troubleshooting problems in VM Others?

Software Resources

Microsoft SoftwareEvaluation Versions (sometimes with texts)Some pre-created Virtual Machines

available for download for testing/trial purposes

MSDNAA.NET or equivalent programSchool District Licensing (for lab use)

Software Resources Linux

FREE!!!Distrowatch.comDistributions

Install in Virtual Machine Run “Live” version

CDVirtual Machine

Common Version: Ubuntu, Fedora, PCLinuxOS, Mandriva, OpenSUSE, Knoppix

Other Software

Many FREE Networking Software Resources

Solarwinds.comIP CalculatorNetwork Configuration toolsNetwork Analysis toolsMore

OPEN SOURCE (many available)http://sourceforge.net/http://osswin.sourceforge.net/

Hardware Needs ASK, ASK, BEG, ASK AGAIN Check with School and District IT Managers for

OLD equipment (switches, hubs, wiring) Donations from Business Community

Check with Students for contactsMake sure the materials are “usable”

Vendors: you will be amazed at what they have to give.

Equipment/curriculum programs with major vendors: CISCO and others

GRANTS!!

IT Support Concerns Students can bypass installed “control” software ~ disable

all network access to VM ~ restrict settings changes to administrators

Software licensing issues ~ many vendors now are allowing multiple installs using VMs ~ consider a program such as MSDNAA ~ free software (distrowatch.org)

Viruses ~ not likely if no network connections ~ install Anti-virus in VMs

Distribution of VMs ~ use configuration management software (Ghost) ~ run batch scripts to copy VM files to PCs

Concerns with Open Source software ~ request a Virtual Machine install to keep it “off the network”

Others?

QUESTIONS?