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Using Virtualization to Teach Linux System Administration in Online Courses

Using Virtualization to Teach Linux System Administration in Online Courses. Jim Owens Community College of Vermont May 8, 2007. Overview. Background Before virtualization With virtualization Virtualization system Learning environment Curriculum impacts Future enhancements Conclusions.

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Using Virtualization to Teach Linux System Administration in Online Courses

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  1. Using Virtualization to Teach Linux System Administration in Online Courses Jim Owens Community College of Vermont May 8, 2007

  2. Overview • Background • Before virtualization • With virtualization • Virtualization system • Learning environment • Curriculum impacts • Future enhancements • Conclusions

  3. Background • Intermediate Linux CIS-2152 • Using Linux in the small office/home office • Required for Web Site Design & Administration degree • Requires Introduction to Linux CIS-2150 • Installation and configuration • File system • Security • Text editing • Process management, etc.

  4. Before virtualization • Offered at one CCV site and on line • Defined by 10 essential objectives (EOs) • 6 = “demonstrate” • 3 = “discuss” • 1 = “explain” • Online course required 1 or 2 on-site meetings to complete hands-on EOs

  5. CCV Sites • Driving to Montpelier • Newport 1:30 • Brattleboro 1:53 • Bennington 2:29 • Rutland 1:17 • St Johnsbury 0:56 • Middlebury 1:23 • Peru, NY 2:24

  6. On-site meetings format • Time available 2:45 • Agenda • Introductions & overview • Equipment setup • Hands-on activities (including Linux install) • Evaluations • Wrap-up • Equipment teardown

  7. Before virtualization Bottom line: Intermediate Linux students in online courses spent more time reading and writing about Linux system administration than they did in performing these activities.

  8. Virtualization system • OpenVZ • Fedora Core 6 with standard 2.6.18 kernel • Default Fedora Core 5 template for student virtual environments (VEs) • Dell rack-mount server • Intel 2.8GHZ dual-core processor • 2GB memory • Two 136GB HDDs mirrored on hardware RAID

  9. Learning environment • Ideally, students have full control of individual servers, with freedom to: • Use root account as necessary • Install or remove software packages • Modify configuration files • Monitor system logs • Create & manage user accounts • Make mistakes without fear of system or network compromise

  10. Learning environment • Firewall/router with network address translation • OpenVZ system with a VE for each student, plus 2 more • One homebase VE managed by instructor • One test/demo VE for instructor use • Router sends SSH traffic to homebase • Homebase runs a local DNS service

  11. Learning environment SSH (port 22) Public Internet Private network

  12. Curriculum impacts • Students have 24/7 access to own VEs • Hands-on activities start Day 1 and continue throughout the course • New hands-on activities added: • Post-installation hardening • Patching/updating OS and applications • System monitoring & management • User administration

  13. Future enhancements • Provide access to graphical clients for testing Web applications and some configuration tasks • Add Windows client systems for better testing of Samba shares

  14. Conclusions • Virtualization technology provides a learning environment that • Supports hands-on learning • Provides a more authentic experience • Permits exploration and mistakes without fear of system compromise • Encourages independent learning • Is affordable

  15. Questions & comments

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