SIGITE 2005 Workshops

C1: Virtual Machines in the Networking/ System Administration Lab and Classroom

Mark Stockman & John Nyland

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

4219 GITC, NJIT

The use of virtual machine software is becoming ever-prevalent in the networking and system administration computer lab.  In the past, multiple special purpose or operating specific computer labs were necessary in combination with things like multi-boot options.  Even these scenarios presented a ceiling of the number of sections an institution could offer in a single lab based upon the specific hardware utilized.  The use of virtual machine software has expanded the capability of a single generalized computer lab in which multiple operating systems could be incorporated and students have control over their virtual systems throughout the quarter/semester.  With the same methodology, virtual machines have also expanded the capability of the instructor to demonstrate cross platform system administration tasks in the classroom by allowing a remoteable solution into multiple virtual machines from any standard teaching computer station.

The networking/system administration faculty at the University of Cincinnati have been successfully using virtual machine technology (and publishing papers about their experience) in their labs and classroom demonstrations for over two years and have obtained a level of expertise in how it can fully be utilized by others teaching in these areas of study or administering the labs.  A single networking/system administration lab within the Department of Information Technology at the University of Cincinnati using Virtual PC is utilized by nine courses (Introduction to Networking, System Administration I, System Administration II, Network Infrastructure Development, Web Administration, Routing and Switching, Enterprise Network Administration, Systems Integration, Network Security).  This equates to 12-20 two hour lab sections per quarter.

This workshop will cover generalized as well as in-depth use of Microsoft's Virtual PC and Virtual Server software for class demonstration and in the networking/system administration computer lab.  Topics to be covered include: virtual machine setup of Microsoft and Linux operating systems, virtual network environments, ISO CD image file management, undo disks, virtual disks, network security simulation, virtual machine remoting solutions, virtual machine storage management, lab management of virtual machines,  and differencing disks.

Faculty will learn specific techniques on integrating virtual machine technology into their curricula (classroom demonstrations and lab).  IT staff will learn how to implement virtual machine technology into the networking/system administration lab (storage and delivery of ISO files and virtual machines).  Documentation on specific techniques for utilizing virtual machines in an IT curriculum will be provided to participants.  Each participant will also receive a DVD with full Linux virtual disks and Windows differencing disk files/scripts.

Registration is available through the SIGITE 2005 Registration Page.

Registration rate is: $90. each

Questions regarding any of these workshops should be directed to the Conference Co-Chair for Workshops, Jon Preston.