OPS235 Hardware and Software

2016 Fall -

Propose changes to software and hardware platform for OPS235 (to be confirmed):

Option 1

Software: Windows Host + VMWare

• Boot from Seneca Standard Lab Image
• Install CentOS 7.x on three or more VMWare hosted VMs
• Backup VMs to USB flash drive and/or SSD harddisk

Hardware: HP Z230 workstation

• No change to the lab workstation
• Remove IDEX switch and the removable drive bay
• Do not need dual boot: boot from the Windows lab image on the internal hard disk

Option 2

Software: CentOS Host + KVM

• Boot from external SSD in 2.5" USB 3.0 External HDD enclosure with CentOS 7.x installed
  • SSD Hard drive (SATA) 128GB+
  • iCAN 2.5" USB 3.0 slim Aluminum External HDD enclosure or
  • ORICO 2588US Portable Tool Free 2.5-inch SATA to USB 2.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure
• Install KVM as hypervisor
• Install CentOS 7.x on three 0r more KVM virtual machines

Hardware: HP Z230 Workstation

• Have to make sure that booting from external HDD/SSD via USB port is enable
  • Need IDEX switch if option to boot from the Windows lab image on the internal hard disk.
  • Do not need the IDEX switch if the workstation has no internal disk

Option 3

Any other suggestions?

2015 Fall - Now

Software Platform

• OS - CentOS 7.x Linux Distribution
• Hypervisor (Virtualization Software): KVM - Kernel-based Virtual Machine

Hardware Platform

• HP Z230 Workstation
• SATA Removable Harddisk (100GB+)