Create, Configure and Distribute VM Labs

Overview

This guide walks through the steps required to create, configure, and distribute VM Labs using CloudLabs VM Labs service. It also includes customizing the base VM image for lab users.

Prerequisites

• A CloudLabs portal account. If you do not have one, sign up at portal.cloudlabs.ai.

• The administrator role is required to create labs. If you do not see the 'Manage VM Labs' section in the CloudLabs portal, it likely means you do not have administrator privileges.

  Please contact CloudLabs support for assistance with this issue.

  

Steps

1. Create a Lab

2. Customize Base VM Image (Optional)

3. Invite Users

4. Organize First Class/Session

5. Organize Subsequent Classes/Sessions

Create a Lab

A lab in CloudLabs VM Labs represents a defined environment with specific configurations and settings used to create, manage, and distribute VM labs. Each learner is provided with a VM lab instance that mirrors the predefined lab configurations.

The lab creation process involves inputs spread across 3 sections. Following is a breakdown of the lab creation process.

1. Navigate to the Manage VM section and click on Create.

   

2. On the Basic tab, fill in the following details:

3. Fields	Value to Input
   Name (Title of the lab for your users)	Programming-101
   Location (Region to deploy VM)	us-east-1 or default
   VM Image (OS image for VM)	Windows 11
   VM Size (Configuration of VM)	Small

4. Fields	Value to Input
   Name (Title of the lab for your users)	Programming-101
   Location (Region to deploy VM)	us-east-1 or default
   VM Image (OS image for VM)	Windows 11
   VM Size (Configuration of VM)	Small

5. Proceed to the Credentials and Connection Type page. Expect the following fields left as Default.

   Fields	Value to Input
   Username (username to access VM)	labuser-01
   Enable CloudLab Direct Web Connect	Enable

6. Click on Next and go to the Cost Optimization page.
   All the Cost Optimization settings can be updated later as well in the Manage VM Section

   Fields	Value to Input
   Restrict VM Uptime	Disabled
   Lab Instance Duration per User	15 days
   Lab Expiry Date	15 days from today
   Maximum Number of Users	10

   Keep idle shutdown settings to default.

7. Click on Create. The lab will be prepared within a minute, and you will be navigated back to the Manage VM Labs section to see the newly created lab.

Customize the Base Image (Optional Step)

The base VM image acts as the template for all lab VMs. Customizing this base image is optional and allows you to tailor the virtual environment to meet the specific requirements of your course or training.

Follow the following steps to customize the base VM image:

1. Navigate to the Customize Base Image tab in your lab.

2. Start the Base Image VM and connect using Direct Connect. You will redirected to direct-connect VM lab experience.

3. Install necessary software for classroom training (e.g., Visual Studio Code).

4. Close the VM Direct-Connect.

5. Click on Publish. All lab instances will mirror the Base Image VM's configuration.

Inviting Users

CloudLabs supports 2 ways to invite users to the lab.

1. Using an email address.

2. Using an activation code.

For this tutorial, we will go through the 2nd option, i.e., the activation code. For more information on the above options, read the article on Adding Users to the Lab.

1. Go to the User Tab.

2. Click on Get Activation Code.

3. Copy the activation code and share it with the user you want to invite to your class.

Conducting First Class Session

By default, none of the users have access to their VM Lab, even though they received the activation code. With the activation code, they can register for the VM Lab and see their VM Lab, but they can’t access it yet.

As a cost optimization measure, CloudLabs does not launch/create labs by default. Labs can be launched by invited users on demand, which can take around 5 minutes, or some instances can be pre-created using CloudLabs Hot Instances.

1. Click on Hot Instances and enter 5 to create 5 Hot Instances.

2. Click on Enable Lab Access to start the classes. All the invited users can connect to their VM now.

3. At the end of class, disable Lab Access to ensure users can not access their labs anymore and stop all the virtual machines belonging to this lab.

Conducting Subsequent Classes

The process mirrors the first session, minus the need for "Hot Instances.” Simply enable lab access to begin and disable it to conclude the session.