Enabling new pedagogies in operating systems and networking courses with state of the art open source kernel and virtualization technologies

  • Authors:

  • Alessio Gaspar;Sarah Langevin;William Armitage;Matt Rideout

  • Affiliations:

  • University of South Florida (USF), Lakeland, Florida;University of South Florida (USF), Lakeland, Florida;University of South Florida (USF), Lakeland, Florida;University of South Florida (USF), Lakeland, Florida

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges
  • Year:
  • 2008

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a set of laboratories for undergraduate courses in Operating Systems Concepts (OSC) and Networking (NET). More specifically, we focus on exploring how state of the art Linux kernel and virtualization technologies can be leveraged to implement new pedagogical strategies focused on problem-based, active and authentic learning. The Linux Loadable Kernel Modules (LKM) technology is leveraged to scaffold the learning of a production-level kernel's internals in OSC labs which draw their inspiration from root-kit development techniques. The User Mode Linux (UML) and Manage Large Networks (MLN) virtualization and provisioning technologies are deployed in networking labs to allow students to experiment hands-on with virtual networks created on-demand to illustrate widely used networking protocols. We focus on establishing the benefits of the proposed approaches by stressing the topics and pedagogies they enable instructors to engage their students in, compared to existing educational practices