Internship Programmes
 
Trusted Embedded SysAdmin Device

Discipline: Computer Engineering / Computer Science / Electrical Engineering preferred

Project Description:
Background.  Embedded devices have built-in telnet or web server for user to do configuration and maintenances. However having any of these services enabled may pose security risk to the devices on the network as telnet and web based access are usually not secure. The best option to minimize security risk is to disable these services. With these remote services disabled posed problem for system administrator as now remote access to these devices are not possible anymore.

Objectives.  The objective of this project is to develop a trusted embedded device for administering network equipment. A small portable device could be attached to the network equipment to provide an as-needed access to the equipment for configuration update and maintenance. Gumstix is an example of a small form factor embedded device that can be customized to provide this functionality.

Deserving candidates who successfully demonstrate the concepts/prototype would be funded to attend a relevant overseas/local conference.

What the students is expected to gain:

- Knowledge of security concepts
- Some embedded systems design and programming experience

Pre-requisite:
Non-technical
- Natural sense of curiosity, like to spend time outside curriculum requirements to explore how things work.
- Self-driven to learn things that are not taught
- Strong independent thinking

Technical
- Networking knowledge
- Knowledge of OpenEmbeded Linux, C, PERL or other programming language