Vlab FAQ
1. What is Vlab
2. Why Vlab?
3. Who are your users?
4. Are vlabs free?
Animation Editor (AE) FAQ
1. What is AE?
2. Why AE?
3. What are AE’s key features?
4. Can I use AE to create my own network animation?
5. How to get started?
6. Can I use dynamips generated data to feed AE?
7. Can I run animation created by AE stand-along?
Vlab FAQ (2011.3.18)
1. What is Vlab?
Vlab (Virtual Network Lab) uses simulation to generate data based on a scenario and animates the simulation results to illustrate the experiment. Its first applicatiion is network vlab. We use network simulation (dynamips, Packet Tracer, or ns2) to simulate various protocols and scenarios, and use an animation tool (AE) to render. The results are network animations we call vlab. In 2011, we plan to extend vlab to other domain.
2. Why Vlab?
Network protocols are abstract and distributed. it's hard for many beginners. They often get stuck with complicated configuration and unable to develop network design and troubleshooting skills. By visualizing network behaviors, we believe the learning productivity can be raised dramatically.
3. Who are your users?
We target 3 types of users.
- College professors and student. They are interested in network fundamental courses such as IP address, LAN, routing (RIP, OSPF),
- Certification test. Cisco has developed 3 levels of certification tests: CCNA, CCNP, CCIE.
- Solution training. Apply integrated network skills to design network and solve problems. E.g., build a remote office network. Design a multi-media network.
4. Are vlabs free?
Yes. They are all free for now (the first of 2011). We plan to continue to make fundamental network courses free.
- We intend to keep a high percentage of vlabs free. They are core protocols included in college network classes.
- Certification test content (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE) will become subscription based services.
- Solution training courses (to be developed in 2012.)
AE FAQ (2010.10.16)
1. What is AE?
AE stands for Animation Editor. It is an animation editing tool to create aniamtion tutorials for network protocol. Later, AE will supprt animation from other domains.
2. Why AE?
Microsoft Visio and Power Point are fine presentation tools. However, they don’t animate. Adobe’s Flash editor can create animation. But it’s hard to handle complicated network data. We attempt to solve this problem by AE. AE is an animation editor. Author can use AE to visualize complicated network states and events. AE could be extended to serve other scientific and engineering domains.
3. What are AE’s key features?
Whatever you see from our animation, it is created by AE. AE’s key features are:
- Creating a topology and configure nodes, interfaces, and links.
- Create a packet, specify its content, and how to move it along the topology.
- Create tables for hosts, switches, and routers. Add/delete/highlight table entries as nodes are sending/receiving packets. Examples of tables are: cache, MAC table, routing table, election state, neighbor list, OSPF LSDB, HSRP state.
- Create message window to display configuration commands at the right timing.
- Create node bubble, packet bubble to explain things in conversational style. Create captions to describe details..
- Save animation online and publish animations.
4. Can I use AE to create my own network animation?
Yes. Our goal to build a visual community. Visitors are welcome to register and use AE to create his own network animation, and share it with the community.
5. How to get started?
At VL home page, click "Animation Editor" button and register. Follow the instructions and get AE downloaded to your browser. Read AE User’s Guide for details. Select Test > My ARP basics in AE folder to review an example.
6. Can I use dynamips generated data to feed AE?
Yes. AE can use dynamips generated data as input. But it's not avaibale for public yet. (It may become availabe by 4Q2011 depnding on user demand)
VL’s internal dyanmip wrapper collects virtual routers’ states which are used by AE. For example, routing tables, switch MAC tables. About 10% of Vlabs use dynamips generated data (as of March 2011). They are called Labs. For example, ARP Spoofing lab, Switch_VLAN Layer 3 switch lab, HSPR link failover lab.
AE displays dynamips generated packet data in pcap format. User can see packet header content by clicking the packet itself.
7. Can I run animation created by AE stand-along?
No. Vlab player is required to run vlab animation. (Vlab player is an animation platform developed by Visualland.) When a user clicks a vlab, following events occur:
1) vlab player is downloaded to user’s browser.
2) Animation data is downloaded.
3) When loading is done, Vlab player starts to animate the vlab.
Yes. If you do need it, you can pay for a small fee. We can bundle data and code into one package and create a stand-along .swf file.