Virtualization as a teaching tool for IT-based courses

Abstract

Virtualization, VMware, VirtualBox, XEN, Virtual PC, VNC, NoMachine NX server, Paravirtualization, Operating systems

Nowadays, the virtualization technologies are more and more often used in many informatics areas. They are applied for better utilization of existing hardware or software resources, servers? consolidation and for security reasons as well. This article shows the possibility of the virtualization technology usage also in the academic environment as a support of laboratory exercises of two academic courses. The case study is based on the idea of virtualization of the physical computer for lower costs and security reasons. The VMware products are used nowadays in our university and the article want to show other, especially free, alternatives to this commercial product like VirtualBox, Microsoft Virtual PC, XEN etc. Described approaches and techniques can be applied to many others similar subjects, not only in these two courses.