A computer networking laboratory for administration and networking

This project implements a laboratory for studying administrative aspects of computer networking and operating systems. The primary goal is to provide an environment isolated from the campus network in which students install, manage, and measure the performance of several system and network configurations. The laboratory computers are usually organized into mini-networks of three PC workstations and one server, connected to the lab's backbone by a router. Additional hubs, switches and access points allow a variety of additional configurations. The computers can run both Linux and Windows 2000. The exercises currently being developed emphasize experimentation, observation, and measurement. Students not only gain hands-on experience with networks and operating systems, but also experience analyzing multiple configurations. This paper describes the exercises already developed and plans for additional ones.