a distributed virtual computer security lab with central authority
This paper presents a computer security lab for distance education in which a group of remote students can carry out assignments related to security of computer systems and networks. Each student runs part of the lab in a virtual environment on his local computer. Inside this virtual environment, the student can run a number of virtual hosts and connect them into virtual networks. The virtual environments of the remote individual students are connected into a Distributed Virtual Computer Security Lab (DVCSL), which enables transparent communication between virtual hosts in the remote virtual environments. The DVCSL assures that non-participating systems outside the DVCSL are not affected by the potentially malicious data transmitted inside the DVCSL. The DVCSL includes a central authority operated by the university that connects and manages the virtual environments. We present the architecture of the DVCSL with its central authority, an implementation using a client-server architecture, and an example setup.
distance education e-learning virtual lab