Virtual Cluster to Enhance Student Experience within a Teaching Environment

Computer clusters are the preferred option for systems requiring high computational needs in growth areas such as computational chemistry, molecular modelling, dynamic finite element analysis as well as 3D graphic rendering. Clusters are usually locked away in noisy cramped environments and rarely designed to be accessible by students or indeed to be student-proof. They are designed to run programs usually 24/7 often over long extended periods of time which further restricts what can be achieved by a teaching team. VCNet is a non-invasive technology which enhances student learning opportunities by allowing each student individual access to a virtual cluster without the need for specialised hardware. VCNet is a development achieved at the University of Sunderland to give computing students experience on the use and programming of clusters, but in a virtual environment. It addresses problems such as access, cost and space issues which are synonymous with conventional teaching of the subject. Booting from a virtual hard drive (VHD) these machines can be called into service – giving each student access to his/her own cluster environment for the duration of a teaching session. A single boot operation returns the machines back to a standard configuration to enable the teaching space to return to its normal mode of operation. This hides the complexity of the system from a non-user as well as enabling cluster computing to be taught in a non-specialised environment. VCNet also provides a risk free environment for the development of new cluster software. By designing VCNet to the same architecture as the University’s 40 node / 160 processor cluster means that software developed on VCNet can be moved to the University Cluster without modification. This paper addresses learning and teaching issues related to the use of VCNet in a higher education setting.