Enock Mbewe (PhD Candidate): Cost-aware Security Decision Model
This project investigates and implements mechanisms for enhancing the security of community network infrastructure with configurable secure QoS. In particular, this study will investigate the use of a novel, cost-aware Internet security decision model to allow users, especially those with limited computing skills, to easily configure security options that can map to complex Internet security mechanisms in order to achieve Confidentiality, Integrity, Authentication and Privacy. This research has received kind support from SpeedChecker and Censys, who are giving us free access to their platform for our measurement studies.
Luqmaan Salie (MSc student): SDN Traffic Engineering using Segment Routing and DNS
This project explores a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Segment Routing (SR) solution to improve performance and QoE in national research and education networks (NRENs), focusing on compartmentalizing routing and flows based on traffic types. This research includes a comprehensive measurements campaign of the SANReN, the nation-wide NREN currently in place in South Africa, connecting universities, science institutions, and overseeing science projects such as the Square Kilometre Array. Solutions will be tested in a virtual environment based on a scaled-down emulation of the SanREN, where an SDN controller will be incorporated with a DNS resolver to optimize network path creation. This research has received kind support from SpeedChecker, who are giving us free access to their platform for our measurement studies.
Chikomborero Mwenje (MSc student): Content caching in Community Networks
The project explores cache placement strategies in community networks, and in particular, to investigate vital network metrics to consider when deciding on cache placement in small cell base station architecture called cloudlets. This work is motivated by the understanding that an increasing percentage of user devices run content-intensive applications, such as social media applications, resulting in an increased demand for content and increased delays in content delivery. Caching content in cloudlets aims to reduce traffic and cellular network overload.
Chiratidzo Matowe (MSc student): Using Deep Learning to Classify Network Traffic in a Community Network
This project implements a Deep Learning (DL) classifier to support quality of service and traffic engineering in community networks. This research explores and builds DL models for real-time fine-grained traffic classification using minimal computational resources. In order to respond to the network resource and security challenges, this research will investigate how to select relevant detection features in a federated network measurements environment.
Mcguigan Lakay (Mphil student): Understanding Bandwidth constraints on university students during the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown, within a South African context.
The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of the impact of bandwidth constraints on university students during the lockdown and to understand the available options for educational content and what students are doing to continue with their remote learning. The aim is to raise awareness of the technology-related challenges of remote learning.
Feedback on this study will be provided by a link on this page later in 2021.