Introduction§
In this lab you will obtain a user account on Emulab and create a simple network. This lab is meant as an introduction to the process of creating and executing a network within the Emulab world. In later labs Emulab will be used to prototype network architectures and to experiment with network performance.
Goals§
- To get you involved with a simulation environment that supports the development of networking. When designing a new network, it is difficult to acquire all the hardware and software. Also, performance and other networking issues can be investigate prior to building the network.
- To do a controlled pass through creating and exercising a network within the Emulab.
References§
Logistics§
This lab is to complete the Emulab Tutorial.
Each student should complete this assignment individually so that everyone has their own Emulab login and environment.
Assignment§
- Go to Emulab and read the front-page description.
- At the Emulab website, request an account, asking to join the project: CS330-F09
This link should take you directly to the account request form with the project title pre-filled.
You will receive an email when you are approved as an Emulab user.
- Look over the FAQ to know what sorts of answers you can find there when you have a question. Pay particular attention to the "Using the Testbed," and "Troubleshooting" sections.
- Work your way through the Emulab tutorial, not including the "Advanced Topics."
I know the ns code is already there, but I want you to add it to your lab report and to include the network drawing in your lab report. Also, capture the command sequence on your nodes and add this to the lab report.
Note that the tutorial sort of peters out after the experiment is set up. Once you've ssh'd into your node, just skim the rest of the tutorial. When you are done, end your experiment.
Advice§
Emulab is a shared resource used by many schools and research labs. Thus, for future exercises, you might have to schedule your time to ensure that you can get sufficient resources. The FAQ has some answers related to obtaining resources as well.
Lab Report§
The basic format of lab reports will be to include a header with your name, the date, the course number, and the lab title. Margins, fonts, and anything else aren't terribly important as long as I can read it. I will specify what needs to be included in the report in each lab, and there will also be discussion questions to answer for each lab. Include your answers in their own section at the end of the report.
This particular report is fairly simple. The assignment above indicates what to include. Please add enough text to make it clear what is what, but you don't need to write up long descriptions. In order to put the ns file, network architecture drawing, etc., into your lab report, please submit it as a PDF file. Write it up in your favorite word processor, make a web page, use Latex, do whatever, but print it to a PDF and submit that on the Moodle.
Discussion Questions§
- Besides
ns, what other options can you find for network simulation? How do they seem to compare? - About how long did you spend on this assignment? Did you have any difficulty acquiring sufficient resources?
Grading§
Finish the lab for full credit. If you don't do this, then some of the later labs will be very difficult.