A Centralized Resource Management Model for Computer Networking Laboratory Equipment Sharing among Collaborating Institutes

信息科学与系统(33)这个项目是一个为期两年的合作研究，由三个机构组成，包括一所两年制社区学院、一所地区性四年制教学大学和一所位于德克萨斯州、密西西比州和北卡罗来纳州的国家综合性大学。该项目为远程教育学生开发了一个使用虚拟化技术进行计算机网络与安全实验室教学的框架，并在班级和机构之间共享实验室资源。该项目创新地使用成熟的现成软件应用程序来提供基于实验室的远程教育。本项目的主要创新之处在于它使用了VMware等产品来提供使用不同操作系统的环境，并使用Dynamips来模拟物理网络设备，包括路由器、交换机、VPN服务器和防火墙，从而为学生提供丰富的网际网络体验。拟议的设备共享模式通过中央预订和管理系统解决了从多个位置调度、优先排序、安全访问和核算资源的复杂问题。该项目的成果使20多所通过思科网络技术学院计划被列为当地学院的高中和社区大学受益。8名教职员工参与了这项研究，而参加试点本科课程的200多名学生直接受到了影响。预期成果包括采用其他STEM学科管理和共享物理实验室设备的基本理念。

Information Science and Systems (33) This project is a two-year collaborative study among three institutions consisting of a two-year community college, a regional four-year teaching university and a national comprehensive university, located in the states of Texas, Mississippi and North Carolina. It develops a framework for teaching computer networking and security labs using virtualization technologies for the distance education students and sharing lab resources among classes and institutions.The project makes innovative use of mature and off-the-shelf software applications in the delivery of lab-based distance education. The primary novelty of this project lies in its utilization of products like VMware to provide environment for working with heterogeneous operating systems, and Dynamips to emulate physical networking equipment including routers, switches, VPN severs, and firewalls to provide a rich blend of internetworking experiences for the students. The proposed equipment sharing model through a central reservation and management system solves a complex problem of scheduling, prioritizing, securely accessing, and accounting resources from multiple locations. The outcomes from this project benefit more than 20 high schools and community colleges that are listed as the local academies through the Cisco Networking Academy program. Eight faculty members are involved in this study, while more than 200 students, enrolled in the pilot undergraduate courses, are directly impacted. Anticipated outcomes include adaptation of the fundamental ideas of managing and sharing physical laboratory equipment by other STEM disciplines.