An integrated laboratory for computer architecture and networking

Processors, compilers, and networks - important materials covered by computer science curricula - are often treated independently in laboratories associated with corresponding lecture courses. An integrated laboratory called CNP for juniors majoring in computer science at the University of Electro-Communications has been developed and is now under way, where a networking protocol stack implemented by students is translated into object codes by a compiler implemented by students, which in turn are executed on a processor implemented also by students. The goals of the integrated laboratory are to deal with modern and attractive materials, to provide students with opportunities of collaborating in constructing a large system, as well as to have students share a feeling of accomplishments among them. Responses from students approved our intention and verified the effectiveness. In this paper, we describe the design and development of baseline components to be integrated, laboratory organizations and schedules, and results and evaluations of the laboratory.