Use of a Remote Network Lab as an Aid to Support Teaching Computer

Abstract

This article presents the use of a remote network lab as an aid to support teaching computer
networks. The purpose is to enable students complement their theoretical learning with
practical experimentation in networking devices which can be carried out synchronously to
theoretical classes and from any room with internet access. Unlike the current solutions based
on mainly software emulation and simulation, the students interact remotely with commercial
network devices, such as cutting-edge and widely used switches, routers and firewalls at the
workplace.This proposal reduces the expenses or installing new laboratories in all the
campuses where lectures are held and also moving the students to laboratories that are not
located near their classrooms. The use of the remote laboratory has been compared with the use
of traditional network labs with senior students majoring information technology engineering.
The preliminary results show a great similarity in both uses demonstrating that a remote
network lab is an effective aid for teaching computer networks..