Internet Accessible Remote Real-Time Laboratory for Computer Networking Curriculum

Despite the availability of equipment required to teach hands-on laboratory practices in a computer networking curriculum, educators are faced with the challenge of extending such practices to students in remote locations. Distance learning has become a substantial part of the current education system, requiring institutes of learning adjusting from traditional face-to-face courses to content that can be carried out over the internet so that students can complete part or all the requirements for certain courses in an online modality. Unfortunately, traditional networking laboratories were designed with the assumption students will be physically present. This research is aimed to provide at least three feasible solutions to access a typical networking laboratory from remote locations. Specifically, this research proposes the network architecture and equipment required to provide remote access to the physical networking laboratory at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) so that students can log in to the laboratory remotely. Once implemented students will be able to securely authenticate in to the network and complete their laboratory practices. The proposed internet accessible remote laboratory, once implemented, could be adopted almost immediately to shift the face-to-face course Networking and Advanced Data Telecommunications TEC 5313 to an online format or at least to a minimum face-to-face requirement