Implementation Basic Network Design with Netkit For Evaluation of Network Learning

Abstract

A virtual laboratory with a network emulator environment using NetKit is one of series of basic network laboratories on basic computer network competencies where students are given practical trial opportunities at low costs and little effort in their implementation. Teaching computer network subjects to be easily understood by students needs an instructional media as a tool in delivering material. This media uses computer virtualization technology, i.e. creating a virtual laboratory, as a means of students in conducting experiments from the material that has been obtained. In virtual laboratories it is possible to implement network topology designs based on actual network topologies. This implementation is used as a testing tool before the network topology is implemented on the actual network. Therefore, errors can be identified first without disturbing the system that is already running. For testing, the students are given training using a basic network design consisting of the implementation of routing tests, firewalls, ftp server implementation and web server. This paper is aimed at describing ways to develop a virtual laboratory with a network emulator environment using NetKit. Moreover, several exercises on network topology implementation that are applied directly to the real world with NetKit are introduced, such as describing laboratory settings, describing the main parts of the lab, illustrating lab instructions, and reporting lab feeds.