Get Real Get vLab
By India Teller, Director of Business Development

vLabSM Makes Networked Learning a Reality
A new web based training offering means more lab practice time for network professionals.

Necessity really is the mother of invention! The demand from students for more hands-on time in Cisco classes was the driving force behind what has become vLab, a new web based training software that enables students to remotely access and configure real Cisco equipment.

"More hands on lab time!" is the most frequent request from students taking Cisco classes. The need for more hands-on time with the equipment becomes even more critical as internetworking professionals work toward their Cisco Certified internetworking Expert (CCIE) certification the highest certification level bestowed by Cisco. With Cisco projecting that nearly half a million networkers will require training on its equipment this year, the debut of vLab could hardly come at a better time. This explosion in the demand for Cisco training comes at a time when the industry is scrambling to meet staf-fing requirements and can least afford to have large numbers of employees away from the job. Just as important as how to get new skills training is how to provide a means to practice those skills learned in training once employees return to the everyday work environment. Augmentation to classroom training is clearly needed.

The Evolution of vLab
About a year ago, Chesapeake started investigating how to blend internetworking training with skills practice and the advantages of distance learning. While some training was offered using computer based training (CBT) and simulation, research shows instructor led training with hands-on lab exercises on real equipment is superior for transferring skills in the technology training arena.

Still, to receive the hands-on experience with real equipment, the student needed to be physically collocated with the equipment. Chesapeake, as a world class provider of instructor led training, was not willing to sacrifice either content or real equipment when it came to developing training that could be delivered from a distance. The challenge for Chesapeake was to find a way to sustain our standards for content quality and the use of real equipment for the hands-on practice.

Chesapeake took its requirements to MentorLabs, LLC, a new company founded to provide skills-based networked learning. MentorLabs, began building vLab knowing that, while knowledge and concepts can be learned in many ways, skills can only be acquired by actually doing.

For example, changing the engine in a car is a skill. You can understand the concepts of "how and why" an engine works, but to actually change the engine, you have to get grease on your hands. The same is true with networking equipment. You can understand all the concepts of "how and why", but to actually configure the equipment and make the network operable, you have to actually work on the equipment.

It was immediately apparent that remotely accessing real equipment was a first step in building vLab. This proved to be a relatively easy challenge. The real challenge was how to access real equipment and find that equipment in a "ready to use" state no matter what the previous user had done with the equipment. A first step was to develop software that would control and "scrub" the equipment. It took several months, but MentorLabs successfully developed software that could reset equipment back to original configurations after every use.

With the first challenge met, MentorLabs began work on developing content to give structure to a distance learning experience. First, an authoring tool was needed that would allow labs and content from industry experts to be incorporated as a part of the system. At the same time, MentorLabs began working with Cisco Systems to gain use of Cisco training materials. MentorLabs was successful in forming a partnership with Cisco that allowed for inclusion of existing Cisco labs and training materials, including CCIE practice labs, into the product.

MentorLabs knew that to master a skill you must have a foundation, you must be challenged beyond the foundation, and you must be able to assess your competence as you increase your expertise. Using both the Cisco materials and labs developed by other industry experts, including Chesapeake, MentorLabs developed labs in each of these categories. The labs use real-world scenarios and are designed to teach skills. The labs were developed to track both levels of expertise (Introduction, Basic, Advanced, CCIE practice, etc.) and technology (routing, switching, ATM).

The final result is vLab, a proprietary training solution that is a networked learning tool, allowing remote access from anywhere, at any time over an Internet connection or corporate intranet connection. Look for vLab to extend your training experience, reinforcing skills through more hands-on lab time.

Chesapeake First vLab Reseller
Chesapeake has been selected as the first reseller of the system. For large organizations, the vLab system can be installed within corporate intranets. For individual users a public version of the system is accessible via the Internet and allows users to purchase labs individually.

To discuss whether vLab is part of the solution to your training needs, contact India Teller, Director of Business Development, at 703-207-0757 or e-mail iteller@ccci.com.

vLabSM In The News

Item #1
Cisco Systems recognizes the importance of distance learning. MentorLabs is authorized to use all existing Cisco training materials, including CCIE practice labs, in vLab. The labs that are part of current course materials will be available to vLab users. This allows users to practice skills learned in Cisco instructor led classes or to develop skills using the Cisco labs.

Item #2
At the September grand reopening of their new world wide training(WWT) facilities in San Jose, CA, over 100 Cisco employees participated in vLab demos. Connected via the Internet to equipment located at MentorLabs headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland, Cisco employees tested over twenty labs during concurrent sessions. Cisco plans to use vLab for internal training of Cisco employees worldwide.