Honours Projects - Ideas

Note that all my projects tend to be technical projects which require programs to be written. I usually provide examples of similar code for students to base their work on, or help with the use of code libraries. However, complete non-programmers would usually struggle with my projects in general.

• Network Security for Linuxzoo

  Linuxzoo is my virtual linux environment. It provides virtual computers to users, and these computers run on a virtual network. Right now, there is a basic statistic-based security system running in the network, plus a web proxy and some traffic shaping.

  This project would examine LinuxZoo's security requirements, analyse the current security technologies, investigate better and newer approaches to security, propose updated systems, and see at least one of those implemented and evaluated within LinuxZoo. Ideally the resulting implementation would be proactive, detecting problems and throttling machines (or shutting them down) when problems arise.

  • Investigating firewalls, openvpn, iptables, squid, snort, tc, SE Linux, and ip route.
  • Perl, cgi, remote system management
  • Implementing a solution in linuxzoo.net
  • Evaluating the solution.

  
  Languages: iptables, tc, perl.

• Extend linuxzoo with dynamips

  Dynamips is a processor emulator which mimics the hardware of a cisco router. You can load on an IOS, and you have a perfect(ish) emulator of a router or switch which runs in Linux. This could then be added to linuxzoo.net, allowing users to run a router in the same way they run a linux emulator. A tutorial could then be written to demonstrate the usefulness of such a device. Components should include

  • Investigating dynamips, router emulations, simulations, IOS tutorials, evaluation techniques, etc.
  • Making dynamios run reliably in Linux
  • Adding in dynamios to linuxzoo in router mode
  • Writing a tutorial to demonstrate the implementation
  • Evaluating the system by asking students to run the tutorial

  
  Languages: A little C, a little Perl, XML, and Cisco IOS.

• Extend linuxzoo with a PIX emulation

  The PIX firewall is a Cisco technology for providing firewall protection to a network. This is a hardware platform based on a standard PC architecture. The qemu emulator, which emulates PC hardware within linux, has been modified to run the PIX OS. This could then be added to linuxzoo.net, allowing users to run a PIX in the same way they run a linux emulator. A tutorial could then be written to demonstrate the usefulness of such a device. Components should include

  • Investigating pemu, linuxzoo, simulations, PIX tutorials, evaluation techniques, etc.
  • Making pemu run reliably in Linux
  • Adding in pemu to linuxzoo
  • Writing a tutorial to demonstrate the implementation
  • Evaluating the system by asking students to run the tutorial

  
  Languages: linux admin, XML, a little Perl, and Cisco PIX.

• IPv6 in Linuxzoo

  My linuxzoo.net site gives the user their own virtual machine with a single ethernet port running IPv4. Looking to the future, I would like a way to allow users to learn about IPv6. This would include:

  • IPv6 in openvpn (this is used to run my virtual network)
  • IPv6 specific command which would make a useful tutorial
  • IPv6 addresses using dhcpd bind9
  • Implement IPv6 in linuxzoo.net
  • Firewall rules to manage IPv6 traffic
  • Traffic shaping for IPv6 traffic
  • Write a tutorial for users to learn IPv6
  • Evaluate your tutorial with real students

  
  Languages: perl, xml

• A Javascript Virtual Cisco Lab Wiring Tool

  This project is to provide students which a visual tool which mimics the physical view of Cisco routers and switches. Cisco equipment sits in a rack, and has many network sockets for plugging and unplugging connections, along with different types of wires. A system which virtually supports wiring up different network configurations and topologies would be an excellent learning tool, especially if combined with a system which could check if the wires had been plugged into the right places!

  
  Languages: flexible. But Javascript recommended.