Private cloud-based assessment system

• Main Author: Lim, Xiao Lan
• Other Authors: Loke Yuan Ren
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Computer and Information Science; Assessment system; Raspberry Pi
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175324
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In recent years, there has been a surge in the demand for computing-related courses, prompting educational institutions to expand their capacity to accommodate a larger intake of students. Consequently, the imperative to scale existing infrastructure, encompassing both server capabilities and computer laboratory facilities, has become paramount. However, the considerable costs associated with scaling traditional components present a significant challenge. This study aims to explore a cost-effective solution to this challenge by investigating the feasibility of utilizing a cluster of Raspberry Pi devices as a substitute for conventional data centre infrastructure. Specifically on the deployment of an assessment system within this Raspberry Pi cluster, orchestrated through the lightweight Kubernetes framework from Rancher and integrated with Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) implementation. By leveraging the capabilities of Raspberry Pi devices orchestrated with Kubernetes to dynamically adapt to fluctuating workload demands, the financial constraints associated with scaling educational infrastructure can be addressed. The outcomes of this research will also be evaluated through load testing simulating lab assessment conditions.