1. 07/28/2016 EEE'16 1 Supporting Hands-on Networking Lab Exercises for On-Line Students James T. Yu, Ph.D. DePaul University jyu@cdm.depaul.edu

2. Growing Demands for On-Line Education 07/28/2016 EEE'16 2 Source: US Department of Education, June 2014

3. Enrollment in Networking Courses 07/28/2016 EEE'16 3 The data is based on 2013-2014 enrollment.

4. Networking Education Network Theories Network Theories Hands-on Practice Hands-on Practice Protocol AnalysisProtocol Analysis Network Design and ConfigurationNetwork Design and Configuration Performance AnalysisPerformance Analysis 07/28/2016 EEE'16 4 Hands-on lab exercises are essential to support Networking Education.

5. Example: Learning Protocols Protocols: rules of communications Protocols: rules of communications Learning goals: Learning goals: Functions (what) and processes (how) of the protocol under studyFunctions (what) and processes (how) of the protocol under study Messages: syntax and semanticsMessages: syntax and semantics Message flowMessage flow Hands-on Approach: Hands-on Approach: Generate the trafficGenerate the traffic Capture the trafficCapture the traffic Analyze the trafficAnalyze the traffic 07/28/2016 EEE'16 5

6. Needs and Challenges Hands-on networking exercises are important for students learning. The hands-on labs confirm their understanding of the theories. Hands-on networking exercises are important for students learning. The hands-on labs confirm their understanding of the theories. The school needs a networking environment that is available to the students 24×7. The school needs a networking environment that is available to the students 24×7. The school has a growing number of on-line students who cannot be physically at the loop campus, but they also need hands-on experience. The school has a growing number of on-line students who cannot be physically at the loop campus, but they also need hands-on experience. Any time, any place, and always available. Any time, any place, and always available. 07/28/2016 EEE'16 6

7. Networking Lab Environment Physical Labs Physical Labs Emulation Labs Emulation Labs Simulation Labs Simulation Labs 07/28/2016 EEE'16 7

8. 07/28/2016 EEE'16 8 Physical Labs

9. Physical Labs (cont.) 07/28/2016 EEE'16 9

10. Linux02 Linux03 R5 R1 R4 R3 S3 S2 Example of Five Router Configuration (I) R2 07/28/2016 EEE'16 10

11. Linux02 Linux03 R5 eth1 R1 fa0/0 S1 R4R4 fa0/1 R3 fa0/0 S2 fa0/0 fa0/1 S3 fa0/0 eth1 S2 S3 S2 fa0/23 fa0/1 fa0/2 fa0/4 fa0/3 fa0/1fa0/2 fa0/5 fa0/20 fa0/19 fa0/23 Example of Five Router Configuration (II) S2 R2 fa0/0 fa0/1 fa0/2 fa0/6 07/28/2016 EEE'16 11

12. Scheduling Tool for Lab Reservation 07/28/2016 EEE'16 12

13. Pros and Cons of Physical Labs Pros Pros Authentic network environmentAuthentic network environment Effective protocol analysisEffective protocol analysis Realistic performance analysisRealistic performance analysis Cons Cons High Cost: Equipment + SupportHigh Cost: Equipment + Support Low Reliability and AvailabilityLow Reliability and Availability Not scalable for network designNot scalable for network design Vendor specificVendor specific 07/28/2016 EEE'16 13

14. Network Emulation Network emulation is a software tool to emulate network devices from a specific vendor, and to build a virtual network to test real applications on it. Examples: Cisco PacketTracer Juniper Junos GNS3 07/28/2016 EEE'16 14

15. Emulation Labs 07/28/2016 EEE'16 15 Network Cabling Network Design and configuration

16. Pros and Cons of Network Emulation Pros Pros Scalable Network DesignScalable Network Design Effective and realistic configurationEffective and realistic configuration No equipment cost and low tech supportNo equipment cost and low tech support Environment: high availability & reliabilityEnvironment: high availability & reliability Cons Cons Vendor specificVendor specific Limited functions and protocol analysisLimited functions and protocol analysis Poor performance analysisPoor performance analysis 07/28/2016 EEE'16 16

17. Network Simulation Network simulation is a programming environment to simulate the behavior of a network. Examples: ns2/ns3 MininetMininet OpnetOpnet 07/28/2016 EEE'16 17

18. Network Simulation Highly Scalable 07/28/2016 EEE'16 18 Building a network of 1,000 nodes.

19. Pros and Cons of Network Simulation Pros Pros Highly scalable for network designHighly scalable for network design Protocol analysisProtocol analysis Performance analysis – useful for comparison (e.g., design and protocol improvement)Performance analysis – useful for comparison (e.g., design and protocol improvement) No equipment cost and low support costNo equipment cost and low support cost Cons Cons No support for device configurationNo support for device configuration Network design is like programming.Network design is like programming. Relatively steep learning curveRelatively steep learning curve 07/28/2016 EEE'16 19

20. Summary 07/28/2016 EEE'16 20 Physical Lab EmulationSimulation Equipment Cost HighNonenone Support CostHighLow Protocol Analysis ExcellentPoorlimited ScalabilityLowGoodExcellent DesignFairGood ConfigurationGood none Performance Analysis GoodVery poorlimited

21. Conclusion: all are needed Introductory courses Introductory courses Basics of network design and cablingBasics of network design and cabling Simple network configurationSimple network configuration Functions of protocolsFunctions of protocols Mostly emulation lab exercisesMostly emulation lab exercises Personal environment (wireshark and VMWare)Personal environment (wireshark and VMWare) Instructor demo on physical labsInstructor demo on physical labs 07/28/2016 EEE'16 21

22. Conclusion (cont.) Advanced courses Advanced courses In-depth protocol analysisIn-depth protocol analysis Performance analysisPerformance analysis Advanced design and configurationAdvanced design and configuration Mostly on the physical labsMostly on the physical labs The network design course uses the simulation environment.The network design course uses the simulation environment. Research: extensively on network simulation. Research: extensively on network simulation. 07/28/2016 EEE'16 22