A Research Proposal on Network Laboratory Management System Design

This research proposal outlines the design and implementation of a web-based network laboratory management system aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of computer network labs. The project addresses the limitations of existing commercial systems and the lack of interactive student experiences. The proposed system aims to provide features such as device tracking using SNMP, automated backups, a software repository for assignments and virtual machines, and a forum-like platform for discussions. The system's scope includes monitoring lab infrastructure, assignment status, and resource access for both administrators and students, while maintaining confidentiality. The project requires real network devices (Cisco switches, routers, firewall), network services, simulation software (Cisco Packet Tracer), and emulation environments (GNS3). The project's conclusion highlights the advantages of the proposed system, including improved lab management and enhanced student access to resources and information. The system is designed to be modular, allowing for future additions and feature enhancements.

A Research Proposal on Network Laboratory Management System
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note

Introduction
Networks in a computer are complex systems, which connects multiple computing
systems, via various network devices (router, switch, etc.) and communication protocols.
Services (security), like authentication, availability, confidentiality (privacy), access control;
which are practiced and trained using the same computer networks (Appleton, 2014).
Security breaches and protection, with respect to the cyber security practices, are meant to be
network-simulated, else difficulties are experienced by students, during their overall learning
process.
Moreover, during the educational session of network and security, practical
experiments are required to be experimented in the topologies of the networks, which are
again designed and simulated in a laboratory. Accordingly, the project aims to target
experimental methods which can be used in a computer network library, and also to propose a
web-based model (system) to assist the processes of lab management. The motivation of the
project is to plan and create a better network laboratory outcomes in any educational
institution.
Problem Statement
The following are the based statements, which are considered for the appropriateness
of the research, as-
 Commercial systems are costly, while lacking many functionalities (based-on
networks) which do not subject to aid the correct management inside a network
laboratory.
 Absent or low interactive sessions provided to students, with respect to the physical
experiments with network devices, as laboratories lack appropriateness of required
infrastructure and materials.

Objective
The objective of the project is to demonstrate the multiple approaches to experiment a
network for efficient performance of the computer network laboratory design. Further, a web-
based system is to be proposed, which would support the laboratory and its infrastructure
management. To the extents of benefit to the respected students and teachers, management
advantages are predicted to-
 Keeping track of laboratory devices: The system keeps track of the devices by
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), thus maintains the active, functional
and running state. The probable problems and the status would also be observed.
 Backup systems: According to Sakata et al. (2015), backups are necessary to check a
network system’s stability, capability and other functionalities. Thus, to maintain the
same, Python scripts programming will enable automatic backup of the device’s data,
during a scheduled time-period.
 Software Repository: Downloading the required assignments, would be simple to
students. All systems would consist of virtual machine images, to be used in the
laboratories and, in the operating system distributive experiments, as well. The File
Transfer Protocol, moreover, could act like the software tools enhancing security.
 Informing weekly/monthly assignments: Assignments can be presented by the
teachers, on the main portal. The real network would initiate activity on the GNS3
(emulation system). Packet Tracer simulation file are also to be provided to the
students. The planning of the system is to be paged, as a forum-like functionality,
wherein dissimilar questions and answers, will be discussed.

Project scope
Very few remarkable papers have discussed the topic of computer network laboratory
design. Choudhary & Srinivasan (2013) have presented different approach and evolutions of
computer network laboratories; whereas Dalal, Min-Ken & Bhardwaj (2014) has presented a
virtual testbed approach to enable physical interaction. With gained knowledge from the
studied papers, and to execute a different system, the aimed model of the web-based system
would be designed for increasing the effectiveness of the laboratory, to all the teachers and
the students. With the use of the respective system, administrator would be able to
monitor/check the laboratory’s current scenario and assignment status. Also, the user would
be able to view all the infrastructure related resources, as well as, gain access to the
assignments. While, admins would be permitted to access administrative tasks as managing
the inventory, resources and others; students will be permitted to similar activities, however,
detailed information of the inventory, would not be featured to them. This maintains
Confidentiality (Bazzaza & Salah, 2015), as the students would only access the content of the
course, upload the solutions and share posts on the forum-page.
Requirement of Software/Hardware
For the formulation of the Web-based system, or the overall laboratory network
management system, the following are the requirements which are essential for the
completion of the overall project:
 Real network devices: The physical network would consist of 4 Cisco switches, 3
Cisco routers, and a firewall. Wireless device, compatible to SDN is also added.
 Network services (Host-based): Network services (ftp, web, etc.) and netflow,
SNMP, log management-network management systems, and are to be added to the
hosts.

 Simulation: Simulation software of Cisco Packet Tracer, is to be installed in every
learner’s machine. For the same, Cisco’s Virtual Internet Routing Lab (VIRL), can
also be used, as it shows an extra detailed system, however has access to each user
and license fee is also to be purchased (Petcu et al., 2013).
 Emulation: Appropriate emulation environment of GNS3 is also to be developed,
which would allow learners to reach the platforms via telnet. The recommendation of
the GNS3 is studied from (Mishra & Jangale, 2014), as it optimizes the performance
of a target system.
 Additional materials: Inclusion of a cloud infrastructure, can further reserve the
power of CPU, when certain requirements may need to be satisfied.
Gantt chart
(Figure 1: Gantt chart of the overall development process of the Network Laboratory
Management System)

Conclusion
Combination of different approaches to an institution’s network and security
laboratory settings would provide various advantages. Students would be able to access the
physical network devices and further, can examine them. However, in the complex scenario,
it would be difficult to manage the complete setting.
The proposed system of laboratory network management, is aimed to create better
effectiveness of the network laboratories. Firstly, administrators and teachers would be able
to manage the laboratory, in a more simple and effective way. Observation of the laboratory’s
current rank of the assignments and infrastructure, could be monitored. Also, the ‘web portal’
would permit the students to access their required information, regarding laboratory.
Moreover, the type of the Laboratory Network Management System, would be modular;
therefore, additions and new features may also be included.

References
Appleton, C. (2014). U.S. Patent No. 8,782,203. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.
Bazzaza, M. W., & Salah, K. (2015, December). Using the cloud to teach computer networks.
In 2015 IEEE/ACM 8th International Conference on Utility and Cloud Computing
(UCC) (pp. 310-314). IEEE. 4
Choudhary, S., & Srinivasan, B. (2013). Usage of netflow in security and monitoring of
computer networks. International Journal of Computer Applications, 68(24).
Dalal, A., Min-Ken, L. A. I., & Bhardwaj, A. (2014). U.S. Patent No. 8,924,524. Washington,
DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Mishra, V., & Jangale, S. (2014). Analysis and comparison of different network
simulators. International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering &
Management.
Petcu, D., Iancu, B., Peculea, A., Dadarlat, V., & Cebuc, E. (2013, September). Integrating
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Education and Research (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
Sakata, M., Ogawa, Y., Kaneko, S., Kaneko, K., Murakami, T., Nishi, Y., & Takada, O.
(2015). U.S. Patent No. 9,219,650. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark
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