NETLAB+ �Providing Labs Anywhere at Anytime

NETLAB+

A Private Cloud for

Hands-on Lab Needs

Bill Saichek – Cuyamaca College

Jason Zeller – Fort Hays State College

Developing Technology Professionals

www.netdevgroup.com

NETLAB+ Elevator Speech

• What is NETLAB+???
• NETLAB+ is a remote access solution that lets students complete labs anywhere, and anytime. It can serve more students, expand curriculum, and maximize the utilization of valuable IT infrastructure
• Benefits
• IT infrastructure can be accessed 24/7
• Access to latest curriculum
• Infrastructure is automatically configured for each lab
• Lab / Pod Customization Options

NETLAB+ Environment

• NETLAB+ leverages a standard virtualization environment (VMware vSphere) to supply course content to students.
• Here’s what it looks like:

NETLAB+ Environment

• Here’s what you’ll need:
• Management Server
• Hosts vCenter and NETLAB+ appliances
• Optional management appliances (VPN server, management client jump box, etc.)
• Host Server(s)
• Hosts virtual machines in NETLAB+ pods
• “Real” Hardware (optional)
• Cisco routers, switches, firewalls for Cisco CCNA, CCNP courses
• Palo Alto firewalls
• (but, most academies use the Palo Alto VMs)
• Racks, UPSs and other supporting infrastructure
• Internet connection supplied by your college
• With the appropriate remote access ports / protocols
• VMware ESXi and vCenter (VMware Academic programs via D2L)
• NETLAB+ Initial Software and License (16, 32, 48, 64, 96, 128 Concurrent Pods)
• Domain name, SSL Cert
• Membership in Partner Academies (Cisco, VMware, Palo Alto, Red Hat)
• Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching (if using Windows VMs)

NETLAB+ Environment

NETLAB+ Content

• Cisco
• IT Essentials
• CCNA R&S
• CCNP Enterprise
• CCNA Security
• CCNA Cyber Ops
• DevNet Associate
• Networking
• A+
• Network+
• Network Management
• High-Speed Networks
• BGP Fundamentals
• SDN Fundamentals
• Red Hat
• Systems Administration
• Openstack

• Cybersecurity
• Network Security
• Security+
• Ethical Hacking
• CySA+
• Forensics
• Palo Alto
• Cybersecurity Essentials
• Firewall Essentials
• Cybersecurity Gateway
• VMware
• VMware vSphere ICM
• VMware vSphere O&S
• Operating Systems
• Linux+
• Windows 10

NETLAB+ has content covering networking, virtualization, storage and cybersecurity

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Aligns with industry certifications from Cisco, Palo Alto, VMware, Red Hat and LPA

But Wait�… There’s More   

• Do you have curriculum that is not available in NETLAB+?
• Do you have labs that have written that you would like to use, but in NETLAB+?
• Do you have other classes that could benefit from the NETLAB+ environment?

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• Well … NETLAB+ has the answer

Custom Labs and Pods

• NETLAB+ has web-based design tools that can enable you to integrate custom content

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• Pod Designer is used to create the custom pods

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• Lab Designer is used to create custom lab exercises

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Analyze the need for a particular set of knowledge

Propose multiple labs to target the need

Research multiple sources that align with the targeted needs

Identify and organize content from your sources and map it to the labs/pods

Create the VM’s and customize them to fit the labs/pods

Write the lab instructions while making tweaks to the virtual machines

Design the lab topology graphics for each lab

QA Test all labs prior to deployment

Considerations When Building Labs/Pods Using NETLAB+

Analyze the Need for a Particular Set of Knowledge

• Before any time is taken to develop labs, there should be a discussion on:
• Needs
• Legality Concerns
• Licensing or Open Source
• Resources
• People
• Time
• Money
• Platform

Propose Multiple Labs to Target the Need

• Propose labs that will be benefit your target audience
• But … labs may not be possible to create due to:
• Hardware / Software Complications
• Licensing issues
• Virtualizing
• Platform
• Need for Internet access
• Access to “real” equipment

Research Multiple Sources That Align With the Targeted Needs

• Research sources that support the labs / pods
• Sources that align with certifications
• Sources that align with the class objectives
• Sources that align with business and industry KSAs

Identify and Organize Content From Your Sources

and Map it to the Labs / Pods

• Correlate the labs/pods to the sources chosen
• Expand upon the steps from your sources
• Create new labs/pods based on concepts from your sources
• Create new labs/pods on areas the sources might be missing

Create the VM’s and Customize Them to Fit the Labs / Pods

• Build the Virtual Machines to run the labs/pods
• Build a single set of virtual machines to run the entire lab set
• Do not rely on having more than a singe set of virtual machines
• Customize a “Master” image of the virtual machines throughout the building of all of the labs
• Lock in the virtual machines into the final “Master” after building and QA testing

Write the Lab Instructions

While Making Tweaks to the Virtual Machines

• Create the lab template file and build the lab set
• The labs should contain more than just the “step-by-step” instructions … they should also have additional information about the concepts being worked on throughout the labs
• Use clear, understandable and readable screenshots
• Provide an end to the lab
• Do not leave the students saying

“What did I do, and why did I do it?”

Design the Lab Topology Graphics for Each Lab

• Provide an appropriate topology image for each lab
• A custom lab can be configured to use some or all of the virtual machines in the pod
• Create the topology graphic to represent only the virtual machines used for the lab
• If only a single PC is used in the lab, create an image with one PC
• If there are two or more PCs connected to a switch, �(just like the graphic) create an image that matches
• Be careful of legal and copyright issues when selecting icons
• Use a site like pixaby.com
• All images and videos on Pixabay are released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required

Built using Pixabay graphics

QA Test All Labs Prior to Deployment

• Test all labs … with someone else
• Testing your own labs is important, but having a �“second set of eyes” is really important
• Since you created the labs and know how they’re supposed to work, you can miss issues and problems
• A QA tester can provide valuable feedback on:
• Lab quality
• Lab terminology (understandable instructions)
• Lab focus
• Missing or incorrect steps / screenshots
• Missing or incorrect documentation
• Problems with the pod’s virtual machines

In Conclusion

• When building custom labs/pods remember …

Will my students learn, enjoy and benefit from these labs?

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• NETLAB+ Provides a robust environment that can allow you to expand your course content availability beyond the classroom.

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Some Examples

• Let’s take look at some of the custom labs that we have developed