Developing a Fully Virtualized Lab Infrastructure to Reduce Lab Cost, Provide Support for a Wider Range of Courses, and Improve Student Experience.
Grant
Overview
abstract
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PODs of physical equipment require significant Capital and operational expenses while, in most cases, are purpose built for certain courses. The Information Computer Technology program courses use Netlab managed, physical equipment PODs built specifically for hands-on lab experience in a limited number of classes. The lab equipment hardware requires regular refreshes to keep up with technology changes. Capital expenses of purchasing equipment and the operational expenses of maintaining, troubleshooting, and replacing equipment represent a significant financial and human resource cost. Equipment downtime negatively impacts student's labs, human error can lead to more downtime but most importantly, these PODs can be used only for a limited set of courses.
A solution to this problem is to virtualize the equipment PODs. The advantages of virtualization:
� Eliminate capital expenses by virtualizing the POD hardware.
� Reduce disruptions to lab assignments due to equipment downtime.
� Improve lab instruction by enabling a greater variety of lab scenarios using a broader range of network technologies.
� Better prepare students with a more realistic lab environment using the latest virtualization technologies.
� Reduce lab footprint in terms of space and power consumption.
Importantly, the Industry Advisory Board recommended on multiple occasions the lab infrastructure be virtualized.
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