Linux-Based Cluster – IT Living Lab

The idea of this project was to research, develop, and build a small Linux-based cluster for the purpose of installing VMware Server on an Ubuntu Linux Server build. The virtual environment would then be able to provide an environment for experimental operating system builds. It would also be used by students to study the actual concepts of clustered computing and virtualization.

Project Student: Kevin Wikman

Testimonials

The Living Lab has provided a great learning environment to improve my technical skills, build my ability to work in a team, and establish my communication skills. Lindsay Hamstra

The Living Lab helped me gain experience, knowledge, motivation, and communication skills in the networking systems field. I learned about configuring switches, from the beginning to the end, to run a secured and productive networking environment. Khaled Salh Alwasel

Throughout this class, I have learned a great deal of information. It gave me an idea of how how the IT world runs and prepared us for it. Abdulrahman Jassem M. Alzaman

Before Living Lab, I had no work experience related to my IT career. I am grateful to my teachers for their support and encouragement on my projects. I experienced projects hands-on and improved my soft and technical skills. I learned how to work independently and also with a team as needed. I recommend students learn by direct practice and experience the Living Lab. It will introduce you to your prospective career! Ibrahim Issakha Doude

My Living Lab experience has been really challenging and a life-learning, real-world experience. James Lamar Willis

The Living Lab has been very educational for me this semester. I gained experience in collaborating with a client in order to install a Polycom Videoconferencing system, to provide a new way of communication for the client. Paul D. Bailey

My time in Living Lab was really beneficial because the software we learned about is used in the real world. I learned additional skills, such as being disciplined on arrival time, trying different methods to solve problems, and asking help from peers. I really enjoyed working with Snort, and using it to solve problems will help me with future projects. I look forward to what the future holds after adding this class to my resume! Mohammed S. Iftikhar

The Living Lab has been a great experience for me throughout the semester. I worked with some technologies that were previously unfamiliar and consulted with a client to develop a good solution to implement for them. Working in many unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations truly pushes you, and I believe it’s the best way to foster growth in any profession. So for the Living Lab to give that opportunity is a great thing. Nathanial William Adams

FreeNAS is an open-source, Linux based freeBSD, network storage operating system. It can be installed on virtually any hardware platform that allows it to share data over a network. In this project, FreeNAS is being used to house multiple virtual machines for a virtual training program. FreeNAS utilizes a Web-GUI that enables a remote connection through a browser using the assign IP address for the FreeNAS server. This connection is initially insecure and needs a certificate of authority to be e… Read more Creating a secure CA connection for FreeNAS to use with ESXi 6 Virtual Environment

As a web development major, I was able to develop several different web sites from the ground up. I could easily use these projects as examples of my work in a portfolio. Josh Apgar