Create Lab

Overview

In this quick start guide, you will learn how to create a lab within CloudLabs and establish a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection to it. CloudLabs empowers you to build lab environments managed by Azure Cloud, facilitating the creation of labs for various purposes such as classroom training, hackathons, or experimentation.

To begin, you will start by creating a lab within the CloudLabs portal. Through this portal, you will create a lab utilizing an Azure Marketplace VM image. Once the VM is published, you will proceed to register for the lab and establish an RDP connection to access it remotely.

Once you finish creating the lab, you will have access to a lab ready for you. Alternatively, you can invite other users to utilize the lab environment.

Prerequisites

• Access to the CloudLabs portal with admin permissions. Refer the CloudLabs Roles provided here for more details.

Steps to Create a Lab

1. Navigate to the CloudLabs portal using a browser.

2. Navigate to the Manage VM Labs tab present in the side pane.

   

3. In the Labs tab, Click on the + button to create a lab.

   

4. There are 3 steps involved in creating a new lab. Follow the steps mentioned below.

   Step 1 of 3: New Lab

   1. Name (1): Provide a name for the lab.

   2. Location (2): Provide the region where you want the lab instances to be deployed.

   3. Virtual machine Image (3): Select an Image from the list as per your requirement. If you choose Windows image then please ensure to check the box for terms and conditions before proceeding.

      

      Types of VM Images supported

      1. 1. There are 3 types of images supported.

            1. 1. Marketplace Windows Images: Here is the list of available Windows-based images.

                  • Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

                  • Windows 11 Pro

               2. Marketplace Linux Images: Here is the list of available Linux-based images.

                  • Ubuntu 22.06

                  • Kali Linux Gen 2

               3. Custom Images: Images that you have enabled from the Azure compute gallery attached to your lab plan.

   4. Virtual Machine Size: Select a size for your lab as per your requirements from the list.

      

   5. Enable Advanced Networking (1): Select the virtual network that you want to connect with your virtual machine.

      Verify the provided values and click on the Next (2) button.

      

      
      

   Step 2 of 3: Virtual Machine Credentials & Connection Type

   1. Check the Give lab users a non-admin account on their virtual machine (1) checkbox to provide non-admin user accounts to users. Also, provide the Non-Admin User credentials (2) for non-admin user accounts accordingly

      

   2. Check the Use same password for all virtual machines (1) checkbox to use the same Password (2) for all users.

      

   3. Admin Credentials (1): Provide a unique Username (2) and Password (3) for the administrator account.

      

   4. Enabled Connection Type: Choose the type of connection you want to use for the lab. CloudLabs offers support for both RDP and SSH connections for accessing its labs.

      1. For Windows-based labs, you have the option to select an RDP connection.

         

      2. For Linux-based labs, you have the flexibility to choose between RDP, SSH, or both.

         

      Note

      If you opt for an RDP connection in a Linux-based lab, the RDP port 3389 will be opened, but you will need to manually install the RDP package within the lab template using an SSH connection.

   5. To enable connectivity to lab instances via RDP/SSH through HTTP, select the Enable CloudLabs Direct Web Connect (1) checkbox. This feature allows you to connect to your lab instance using any browser, offering greater flexibility and ease of access.

      Verify the provided values and click on the Next (2) button.

      

   Step 3 of 3: Lab Policies

   1. Schedule

      Lab Expiration Date (1): Provide an expiration date for the lab. Once the expiration date ends, all the lab instances will be deleted automatically.

      Virtual Machine Quota Per User (2): Provide the number of hours you want to allow for users.

      

      
      Enable Non-Persistent VM (1): Enable this feature to have the virtual machine (VM) instance available for a specified duration. Once this duration is completed, the VM will be deleted, and users will need to relaunch the lab instance if they want to use it again.

      Lab Duration (2)- The amount of time the VM instance will be available before it is deleted.

      Total attempts (3)- The number of times a user can launch the VM.

      

   2. Automatic shutdown & disconnect

      Automatic shutdown & disconnect features allow you to control your Azure cost and keep it within budget.

      Shut Down Idle Virtual Machine (1): This option stops the virtual machines if the virtual machine is in an idle state.

      Shut Down Virtual Machine When Users Disconnect (2): This feature automatically stops the virtual machine when the user closes the RDP session.

      Shut Down Virtual Machine When Users Do not Connect (3): This feature stops the virtual machine if the user doesn’t connect to the lab instances.

      

5. Click on the Create button and wait for a few minutes to complete.

Next Steps

Now you know how to create a lab with different configurations and the required VM image. Once the lab is created, you will be able to see the lab under the labs section in Manage VM Labs. Now you can proceed to manage these labs by following the below links:

• Manage Lab Instances

• Add and Manage Lab users

• Template VM and Image Customization

• General Lab Settings