Supported Networking Scenarios

Overview

This document is designed to help you understand and configure the networking options for CloudLabs VM Labs. CloudLabs offers two networking options for lab VMs: default networking and advanced networking. This document explains the features, benefits, and limitations of each option and how to configure them for different networking scenarios.

CloudLabs Default Networking

Default networking is the simplest and most convenient option for CloudLabs VM Labs. It does not require any setup or configuration from the lab admin. CloudLabs will automatically create the required network, subnet, IP address, and firewall rules for each lab VM. The lab VMs will be isolated from each other and other resources in the Azure subscription. The lab VMs will have full internet access with CloudLabs-managed DNS.

Some of the benefits of default networking are:

• It is easy to use and does not require any networking knowledge or skills.

• It is secure and prevents unauthorized access to the lab VMs or other resources.

• All VMs are configured to run on their private networks so that no machines can access each other.

• It is scalable and can handle any number of lab VMs without affecting performance or availability.

Some of the limitations of default networking are:

• It does not allow any customization or flexibility for the lab network IP range.

• It does not support any communication or integration between the lab VMs and other resources in Azure, on-premises, etc.

• It does not support any advanced networking scenarios or topologies.

You should use default networking when:

• You want to create a simple and isolated lab environment for your users.

• You do not need any communication or integration between the lab VMs or any other private resources.

To use default networking, when you create a lab, do not select the advanced networking option, or your lab will be created with the default network automatically.

Advanced Networking

Advanced networking is an optional and powerful feature for CloudLabs VM Labs. It allows the CloudLabs admins to create one or more custom networks of their choice of IP range and deploy their lab VMs in those networks. The lab VMs will have full internet access by default unless restricted intentionally. The lab VMs can also communicate with other VMs or resources in the same or different networks, depending on the NSG rules and the network connectivity options.

Some of the benefits of advanced networking are:

• It allows you to customize and optimize the lab network settings, including the IP address range, according to your needs and preferences.

• It supports various communication and integration scenarios and topologies between the lab VMs and other resources in your organization, such as Azure, on-premises, or other network resources.

• It enables you to route the lab traffic via your network infrastructure and perform additional traffic filtering.

Some of the limitations of advanced networking are:

• It requires some networking knowledge and skills to set up and manage.

• It may incur additional costs for creating and using custom networks and hybrid connectivity options, such as VPN Gateway, etc.

• It may introduce some security risks or challenges if not configured properly or securely.

You should use advanced networking when:

• You need to communicate or integrate the lab VMs with other resources in Azure, on-premises, or on other networks.

• You have some specific networking requirements or preferences for your lab, as documented in the example scenarios below.

• You require VM labs to be able to communicate with each other.

Networking Scenarios

The following table lists common networking scenarios and topologies and their support in CloudLabs.