Title: Evaluation of network construction exercise system LiNeS on the basis of heterogeneous and distributed virtual machine network composition function

Authors: Yuichiro Tateiwa, Tomohiro Iwasaki, Takami Yasuda, Naohisa Takahashi

Addresses: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi 466-8555, Japan. ' Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi 464-8601, Japan. ' Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi 464-8601, Japan. ' Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi 466-8555, Japan

Abstract: We have developed a system called LiNeS to facilitate exercises with virtual machines in the existing computer laboratories of universities. We achieved this by establishing a method for constructing a virtual network consisting of heterogeneous virtual machines, and another method for constructing overlay networks consisting of virtual networks on each PC; in addition, we developed several functions for supporting exercises. In this study, we evaluated LiNeS in experiments that students performed with actual machines and with LiNeS, with the help and supervision of assistants.

Keywords: virtual machines; virtual networks; network construction; network administrator education; user-mode Linux; VMware Player; heterogeneous networks; overlay networks; university computer laboratories; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKWI.2010.034191

International Journal of Knowledge and Web Intelligence, 2010 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.256 - 272

Published online: 17 Jul 2010 *

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