📖 Note: This article provides detailed information for all Users on how to use VMs inside labs.
Viewing Virtual Machines (VMs)
A lab part in a course consists of one or more Virtual Machines (VMs). These VMs may be connected to one or more networks. Once you’ve started a lab, you’ll be able to see a list of Virtual Machines [1] in your lab. You can use the Search [2] icon or click Filter [3] to find VMs.
VM Status
Below are the definitions for VM statuses for reference.
Active: When a VM is active, you can interact with the VM - either directly via a VDI, or indirectly through a network.
Starting: When a VM is starting, it is loading the components to power the VM. You cannot interact with the VM until the status changes to ‘Active’.
Stopping: When a VM is stopping, it’s powering down. You cannot interact with the VM whilst it is Stopping.
Shutdown: When a VM is in shutdown status, it cannot be interacted with until it has been started again.
VM Actions
Below are the definitions for VM actions for reference.
Start: Clicking ‘Start' will turn on the VM. This can take up to several minutes depending on the size of the VM.
Connect: Clicking ‘Connect’ will open the VM in a separate browser tab. You can then use the VM until your countdown timer expires.
Snapshot: Clicking ‘Snapshot’ will capture a snapshot of the VM to make a copy of it. Snapshots can also be used for creating multiple instances of the same VM.
Shutdown: Clicking 'Shutdown' with turn off the VM. It can take several minutes for a VM to completely shut down.
Opening a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
A Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) uses specific desktop images required for your lab. A VDI is a desktop virtualisation technology where an operating system (OS) is managed in the cloud.
Click on the Connect button against an active VM to connect to its VDI, as shown below.
When you connect to a VM, the VDI of the selected VM will open in a new browser tab, as shown in the image below.
You’ll then need to log in with a username and password. Once you’re logged in, you will see the desktop for that VM, such as the one shown below.
Using a VDI
Once you’re connected to a VDI, you can complete the lab as per the instructions given to you.
Actions Toolbar
Your VDI has an actions toolbar on the top of the VDI. This toolbar can be moved and placed anywhere on the screen using the grip icon on the right-hand-side of the actions toolbar (as shown in the image below) and dragged to the preferred location. The toolbar options are explained in the following sections.
View
The first option on the actions toolbar is View, which is a dropdown list with the following options:
Fullscreen: Increases the size of the VDI to match the screen size of your device.
Toggle Cursor: Disables the VDI cursor.
Scaling: Scales the VDI to the browser window size.
Decrease Quality: Decreases the display quality.
On-Screen Keyboard
The On-Screen Keyboard feature is available in the toolbar to facilitate the execution of instructions, as shown in the image below.
Ctrl-Alt-Del
The Ctrl-Alt-Del option can be used on a Windows VM to unlock windows servers and open ‘task manager’.
Ctrl-Alt-Shift
The Ctrl-Alt-Shift option can be used to open a copy-paste menu.