Developing a Private Cloud Based IP Telephony Laboratory and Curriculum

Abstract

Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony and Cloud Computing are the two technologies that have been growing rapidly in the IT industry in recent years. Private cloud computing model offers attractive advantages to higher education such as providing scale on demand through the network, rapid platform deployment, and lower costs. IP Telephony curriculum, on the other hand, is very new to IT education and because of the high cost of laboratory equipment; there are very few universities that offer IP Telephony courses. The documentation on IP Telephony laboratory and curriculum is also under-developed. In this chapter, the authors explore how an IT Telephony laboratory can be built upon the private cloud to serve the class. They also develop 21 IP Telephony labs that allow students to practice hands-on skills.