The McClure School provides state of the art compute and storage capabilities through its own data center. The data center houses dozens of servers with over 250 cores and 12 terabytes of memory dedicated to student learning experiences. In any given semester the data center powers hundreds of virtual machines that provide students with virtual networking environments that can be extended and modified in an infinte number of ways.
Information Networking Labs
Overview
The Information Networking Laboratories are located in the lower level of Schoonover Center. The labs enable hands-on learning for all students taking data networking, cybersecurity or foundational courses. The space has been designed an experiential learning location in the Athens campus. It enables hands-on learning experiences that help build problem solving skills. Students and faculty employ the space to teach, learn, research and develop experiences that go from using tiny embedded Internet of things (IoT) devices to simulations of global commercial networks or cybersecurity of large industrial plants.
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Data center
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Experimentation
Through virtual machines and physical equipment, students can create from small to very large networks. These mixed lab environments enable students learning the foundations of information networking and, as they progress in the program, design solutions for enterprise and global networks.
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Internet & Cloud
The Hans Kruse Emerging Communications Technology laboratory is located in Schoonover 006. This lab is dedicated to advanced classes such as ITS 4750/5750 Internet Engineering or ITS 4900/5900 Softwared Defined Systems. Students work in groups with both physical and virtual routers, switches, PCs and wireless access points. Through experiences in this lab students acquire skills to propose business solutions based on Internet and cloud engineering technology.
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Industrial Cybersecurity
The space in Schoonover 006 also incorporates a setup for hands-on experience and research of cybersecurity for operational technology (OT). This setup incorporate industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that control the operations of digital twins of critical infrastructure such as pipelines or industrial tanks. The setup enable students to study means of detection and protection from crafted attacks on industrial infrastructure.
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Open labs
Schoonover 004 is a laboratory space that is used to teach introductory level classes. Additionally, it is used as an open space lab and is available to all McClure School students throughout the week as a space to experiment on. your own, study or spend time with classmates. This labs space was designed to be shared by all McClure School students. Feel free to visit it and create your own art in the lab's Lego wall.
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Foundations, RF & IoT
The lab in Schoonover 002 is dedicated to enable hands-on learning of the principles that enable wired and wireless communications. This space supports lab experiences for classes such as ITS 3110 Foundations of Data Communications or ITS 4370/5370 Wireless Networks. Through labotory experiences, students learn the principles on how and why data communications is possible.
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Advanced Wireless
Recently the foundations lab in Schoonover 002 grew significantly with support from a large grant by the state of Ohio and Ohio's Office for Workforce transformation. The space has now stations with state of the art wireless equipment including RF generators, desktop and portable spectrum analyzers, vector signal generators, vector network analyzers, passive intermodulation analyzers, RF tracking generators, a large variety of antennas, RF absorbing material, RF elements, RF cables, advanced oscilloscopes and power sources. The lab supports hands-on experiments in RF up to 14 GHz.
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Cybersecurity & OT
Schoonover 007 is a small space dedicated to new projects. Currently, it is being used to create a hands-on experience of an operational technology (OT) setup. This experience is being created through a scaled down factory floor setup that incorporates industrial communications and controls. The factory floor incorporates scaled down versions of conveyor belts and sorting devices. This setup allows the demonstration of the real effects of cybersecurity attacks on industrial and critical infrastructure installations.
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Teamwork
The Information Networking Labs in Schoonover also provide students with continuous access to meeting spaces. Schoonover 009 is available for all McClure School students to meet. Also in the lower level, in Schoonover 008, students have access to a MakerSpace where numerous 3D printers and tools are available to build prototypes and cases for different types of projects. The Internet of Things course typically makes use of the space to support the creation of 3D printed objects for sensors or embedded systems.