PlanetLab super(O)C: A real lab over the Internet to experiment with distributed systems

• Published in: Computer applications in engineering education 2013-06, Vol.21 (2), p.265-275
• Main Authors: Marques, Joan Manuel, Lazaro, Daniel, Juan, Angel A, Vilajosana, Xavier, Domingo, Marc, Jorba, Josep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer networks; Computer simulation; Engineering education; Instructors; Internet; Learning; Reproduction; Students
• ISSN: 1061-3773; 1099-0542
• DOI: 10.1002/cae.20468

This paper presents an innovative academic experience regarding the use of PlanetLab-an open large-scale platform over the Internet-in engineering courses on distributed systems. By integrating a live-deployment environment such as PlanetLab into distributed-systems courses, software implementations developed by students can interact with instructors' implementations in a real Internet-distributed scenario. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experience regarding the use of the PlanetLab nodes available over Internet to teach distributed computing concepts to engineering students, since most of the existing literature on distributed-systems courses describes only learning experiences in lab-simulated or lab-emulated scenarios. As discussed in this paper, experimenting with a real laboratory over the Internet adds some complexity to students' practical activities, but it also facilitates a deeper and more intensive learning experience. A survey among students shows some clear benefits of this approach over the use of simulation labs, as well as some pitfalls that must be avoided whenever possible. The paper ends with a set of recommendations for instructors that might want to design similar courses as well as with an overview of future work to be performed in this field. [copy 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 21: 265-275, 2013