Networking Education Transformed: Ohio University’s Journey from Physical to Virtual with VyOS

“VyOS has proven to be a versatile and valuable teaching tool... It has not only overcome the physical and financial constraints of traditional networking labs but also provided a rich, real-world learning experience for students.”
— Ohio University, ECT Team

Customer Overview

The J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies (ECT) at Ohio University is an educational institution focused on technology education. They aim to provide comprehensive educational experiences to students, preparing them for future careers in networking and communication technologies.

Challenge

The school faced significant limitations with its former Cisco infrastructure. The physical hardware not only incurred high expenses and occupied considerable space but also restricted the number of students that could be taught simultaneously. Additionally, the purchased hardware often included unnecessary features for the school's curriculum, which emphasizes a broad capacity over a depth of specialized options. These constraints necessitated the exploration of new, more adaptable solutions to meet their growing educational needs.

Why VyOS

A colleague's recommendation led the school to discover VyOS, a network operating system that promised to deliver the flexibility and scalability they required. Key drivers included:

Integration: VyOS was chosen for its ability to integrate seamlessly into the school's VMware environment.
Compatibility: Its compatibility with other common systems used in the industry, such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Juniper, is crucial for educating students in environments they are likely to encounter in their future careers.
Simulation: VyOS allowed for the emulation of complex network architectures through tools like GNS3, enhancing the practical learning experience for students.

Implementation

Since implementing VyOS in early 2014, the school has set up eight physical stations, each with a combination of Windows, Mac, Linux, and VyOS PCs, along with additional virtual VyOS instances. Key implementation highlights:

Network Construction: This configuration supports the construction of small to mid-size core networks and allows students to engage in advanced networking practices, such as using OSPF.
Customizable Environment: The use of VyOS in conjunction with GNS3 has provided each student with a customizable and resourceful learning environment.

Results

The adoption of VyOS at the J. Warren McClure School has been a resounding success. Key outcomes included:

Scalability: The school experienced a substantial improvement in its ability to educate a larger number of students across a wider range of topics.
Student Success: Students have found VyOS easy to learn and appreciate the opportunity to explore network architectures that were previously inaccessible.
Real-World Application: In a 4000-level course project, students are tasked with creating a full-fledged company network using multiple VyOS routers.
Efficiency: It has overcome the physical and financial constraints of traditional networking labs.

Looking Ahead

The school hopes to see its educational applications continue to expand. While there is a desire for improvements, such as a hardware-neutral "show system | commands" feature for more efficient configuration across varied hardware setups, the overall impact has been extremely positive. The school actively shares its experience with the broader community through their ECT Tech Nuggets on YouTube, further advocating for the system's educational value. For a more in-depth exploration of the school's journey with VyOS, visit their Tech Nuggets page: