table of contents - vmware · the vmware learning platform has a standard set of apis that allow it...

Table of ContentsLab Overview HOL-HBD-1685 Insider Look at the Technology for How VMware DeliversHands-On Labs.................................................................................................................. 2

Lab Guidance .......................................................................................................... 3Module 1 - Getting Started (15 min) ............................................................................... 10

Logging In and Connecting Your vCloud................................................................ 11Module 2 - Working with Deployment Pools (30 min)...................................................... 18

Creating a Deployment Pool.................................................................................. 19Module 3 - Working with Labs and Catalogs (30 min) ..................................................... 25

Creating a Lab....................................................................................................... 26Creating a Catalog ................................................................................................ 31

Module 4 - Working with Security Options (5 min) .......................................................... 34Working with User Accounts.................................................................................. 35

Module 5 - Branding a Tenant (5 min) ............................................................................. 39Using the Coloring and Logo Options .................................................................... 40

Module 6 - Working with Manuals (15 min) ..................................................................... 43Getting Started with the Content Engine .............................................................. 44Importing Content and Publishing......................................................................... 46

Module 7 - Managing an Event (15min) .......................................................................... 51Accessing the Event Management UI .................................................................... 52Registering Stations .............................................................................................. 55Creating Seating Tickets ....................................................................................... 56

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Lab Overview HOL-HBD-1685 Insider Look atthe Technology for HowVMware Delivers Hands-

On Labs

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Lab GuidanceAudience for this lab:

The primary audience for this lab is VMware Learning Platform® tenant administrators(tenant admins) or anyone interested in learning how VMware delivers world-class labswith a premium experience.

Tenant admins are equivalent to the technology owner inside of a business and areusually someone in the IT organization. Tenant admins are typically tasked with creatinghands-on labs in the VMware Learning Platform. Education content creators typicallycreate the manual and virtual machines for the labs and then work with the tenantadmins to incorporate them into the VMware Learning Platform. End users (students)take the labs to learn how to use a given product or technology. Tenant admins use theVMware Learning Platform's administration user interface (Admin UI) to create labs.

Modules of this lab:

This lab is comprised of modules that describe the following administrative tasks:

1. Module 1 - Logging into the Administration user interface and using it to connectyour vCloud Director to VMware Learning Platform

2. Module 2 - Working with Deployment Pools3. Module 3 - Creating a lab and a catalog4. Module 4 - Creating a tenant user account5. Module 5 - Styling your tenant's lab console with your organization's brand6. Module 6 - Working with the Content Editor7. Module 7 - Using the Event Management UI to manage an event

Storyline of this manual:

1. Assume that you have been chosen to be the tenant admin for a company calledRainpole Company.

2. You have been tasked to create a hands-on-lab for that company so that itscustomers can log into the lab you create and learn about a product/technologyoffered by Rainpole Company.

3. This manual will guide you through the tasks you need to complete in order tocreate a basic lab which you will name "Rainpole Lab". You will also create usersfor your tenant, brand your lab console and familiarize yourself with the ContentEngine UI and Event Management UI.

Two tenants are available:

Two tenants are available for you when you take this lab:"rainpole" and "rainpole2". Youcan use a different tenant depending upon where you want to start in the lab.

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• rainpole: When you select this tenant, you must complete all the tasks describedin modules 1 through 7.

• rainpole2: When you select this tenant, some of the tasks have been completedfor you. This tenant already has a cloud org, deployment pool, lab and a catalog.Thus if you do not have time to complete all seven modules, you can userainpole2 and start at Module 4 (Creating a tenant user account) and continuethrough Module 7.

You can use the tenant selector, located along the top of the Admin UI, to switchbetween rainpole and rainpole2.

Shortcut Icons:

Shortcuts (web browser bookmarks) are included along the top of the browser in yourconsole. You can click on one to open a UI:

• UserUI (opens end-user lab console)• Core (opens Admin UI)• Content (opens Content Engine UI)• EventMgmt (opens Event Management UI).

All four of these interfaces will launch automatically when the lab starts. Depending onthe start order, you may have to refresh the page that was already opened.

User Guides available:

Your hands-on-lab desktop should include a folder (VLP Manuals) that includes userguides for the Admin UI, Content Engine UI, Event Manager UI and End User UI.

What Is VMware® Learning Platform™?

VMware Learning Platform is a complete learning environment that integratesinstructional materials, labs, video, social media and more. The VMware LearningPlatform should not be confused with a Learning Management System (LMS). A LMS cancontrol and deliver content from many different sources. In contrast, the VMwareLearning Platform is specifically designed to deliver hands-on lab content. The VMwareLearning Platform has a standard set of APIs that allow it to easily integrate with mostLearning Management Systems on the market. VMware Learning Platform is a cloud-based, multi-tenant solution owned, maintained, and updated by VMware.

The VMware Learning Platform is built out of several different Java-based applicationsthat serve different purposes. For example, the end user UI (lab console) allows for thefollowing:

• Running, pausing and resuming labs• Tracking enrollments• Viewing lab transcripts

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The admin UI allows for the following:

• Administering lab setup• Controlling users and permissions to labs• Monitoring the environment

There are many more activities that each of the applications perform. The list above isjust an example of the separation of duties and the reasons you will be logging intodifferent interfaces throughout this lab.

Is This a Product?

We are currently investigating the commercial potential for this solution after receivingnumerous requests from various customers around the globe. If you like what you seehere at the event and through this lab and are interested in using this platform for yourown content, then send an email to [email protected] or find one ofthe VMware Learning Platform team members at the event.

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About the Activation Prompt or Watermark

When you first start your lab, you may notice a watermark on the desktop indicatingthat Windows is not activated.

One of the major benefits of virtualization is that virtual machines can be moved andrun on any platform. The Hands-on Labs utilizes this benefit and we are able to run thelabs out of multiple datacenters. However, these datacenters may not have identicalprocessors, which triggers a Microsoft activation check through the Internet.

Rest assured, VMware and the Hands-on Labs are in full compliance with Microsoftlicensing requirements. The lab that you are using is a self-contained pod and does nothave full access to the Internet, which is required for Windows to verify the activation.Without full access to the Internet, this automated process fails and thus you see the

watermark.

This cosmetic issue has no effect on your lab. If you have any questions or concerns,please feel free to use the support made available to you either at VMworld in theHands-on Labs area, in your Expert-led Workshop, or online via the survey comments aswe are always looking for ways to improve your hands on lab experience.

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How Does VMware Learning Platform Work?

Lab you will build: VMware Learning Platform deploys virtual machine labs to anyVMware vCloud Director-based cloud and is comprised of VM labs and instructionalcontent. When you use the Admin UI to build a lab, it becomes part of the architecturecalled out (red arrow) in the figure above.

About VMware vCloud Director

Throughout this lab you will see references to using the VMware vCloud Director.VMware Learning Platform was created when the only cloud solution that VMware hadavailable was the VMware vCloud Director. VMware Learning Platform still only supportsVMware vCloud Director-based clouds. There are efforts underway to add support fornewer VMware cloud technologies such as VMware vRealize Automation.

What Is a Tenant?

A tenant is a company or institution (or a department within a company or institution)that has purchased access to VMware Learning Platform. The VMware Learning Platform

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technical staff provisions tenant(s) based upon information provided by yourorganization. In the case of this lab, the tenant "rainpole" was specifically provisioned soa "student tenant admin" following this manual can learn how to configure a lab.

What Is a Lab?

A lab is a collection of metadata, a single vApp Template and an instructional manual.Note the following:

• vApp is a container that can contain one or more virtual machines.• vApp templates ensure that virtual machines are consistently configured across

an entire organization.• Metadata can include information for the student of a lab such as a username,

password and notes. Metadata also tells the lab how to act and perform such asthe expiration date for the lab, how much time a lab should have, which manualthe lab should use, etc.

• Instructional manuals are typically a series of procedures that guide a studenttaking the lab.

Note the following guidelines about labs:

• Labs contain links to the vApps and manuals needed to work through thematerial.

• Before a tenant administrator can add labs to VMware Learning Platform, thetenant administrator must already have a VMware vCloud Director cloud and acatalog, complete with vApps and any media files the labs require.

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About List Pages

If during this lab, if you somehow lose a form (for example, the Create Lab form), youcan display a list page and open a pull-down that includes options to re-open the formyou lost. For example, if you lose the Create Lab form, proceed as follows:

1. Click Labs>Labs. The Lab List opens.2. Click ... along the lab you were working upon (Rainpole in the example above). A

pull-down opens.3. Select an option, to return to the tab you lost.

During the course of this lab you will note that each list page includes a Create button.Create buttons launch a form that allows you to create something. The example aboveshows the Lab List. It includes a Create Lab button. Likewise, the Cloud Org List includesa Create Cloud Org button and the Catalog List page includes a Create Catalog button.

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Module 1 - GettingStarted (15 min)

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Logging In and Connecting Your vCloud

Assumption:

Assume your organization's (Rainpole Company) cloud administrator has alreadyconfigured your cloud resources so that you can use VMware Learning Platform. Suchcloud resource configuration tasks are accomplished using VMware's vCloud Director.Thus this manual only describes tenant administration tasks that you can accomplishusing the VMware Learning Platform's administrator user interface (Admin UI).

This Module:

This module will get you started creating a hands-on lab. You will do the following tasks:

1. Log into the tenant that has been provisioned for you. The tenant is called"rainpole".

2. Connect your vCloud Director to VMware Learning Platform. You do so by creatinga "cloud org". This is typically the first task that a tenant admin should completewhen getting started.

Logging Into your Tenant (rainpole)

1. Open the Chrome browser in the console (there is a shortcut in the task bar).Chrome should start in the lab by default and will have 4 tabs open to the variousadministrative interfaces you will use during this lab.

2. Direct the browser to: https://core.vmwarelearningplatform.local (or click theCore bookmark near the top of browser). One of the open browser tabs shouldalready be on the Admin UI page - typically this is the second tab. This URL takesyou to the tenant admin Login page.

3. On the Login page, enter your tenant administrator credentials:

• username: [email protected]• password: VMware1!

Once you successfully log in, the system displays the Administration UI. You should seesomething similar to the example above in which the tenant "rainpole" is active and youare the administrator (Joe Admin is your "display name").

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Familiarize Yourself with the Admin UI

1. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the Admin UI.2. Note the options of the left panel. These options open pages from which you

accomplish most of your work as a tenant admin. The example above shows theLab List which you can access by clicking Labs>Labs. You will be using the LabList later.

Connecting VMware vCloud Director to VMware LearningPlatform

As part of creating a lab for your tenant (rainpole), you first must connect RainpoleCompany's VMware vCloud Director to VMware Learning Platform. You do so by creatinga "cloud org". To create a cloud org, you must specify the following:

• host• virtual data center (VDC)• catalog Rainpole Company intends to use.

Optional: Switch to rainpole2 if you do not have time tocreate your own cloud org

If you do not have time to create your own cloud org, use the tenant selector and selectrainpole2. Rainpole2 already has a cloud org created for you and also includes adeployment pool, lab and catalog.

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If No Cloud Org, then No vApp Templates

Before you start creating a cloud org, go to the left panel of the Admin UI and clickCloud Management>vApp Templates. The vApp Template List page opens andshows that currently no vApp templates are available to your tenant as shown in theexample vAppTemplate List above. Since you have not yet created a cloud org, yourtenant has no access to any vApp templates. While creating a cloud org, you addressthis access matter by doing the following:

• Enabling an organization virtual data center(s) so the system can deploy vApptemplates

• Enabling a catalog so that the system can access the vApp templates containedin that catalog

Entering Cloud Org Details

To get started with creating a cloud org, proceed as follows:

1. On the left panel of the Admin UI, click Cloud Management>Clouds. The CloudOrg List page opens.

2. On the Cloud Org List page, click Create Cloud Org. The Create Cloud Org formopens with the Cloud Org Info tab active.

3. In the Cloud Org Info tab, enter your cloud org's as follows (the Org Name is casesensitive):

• Org Name: RainPole• Host Name: vcd-01b.corp.local• Org Admin: [email protected]• Password: VMware1!• API Version: VCLOUD_API_5_1• Display Name: (Optional) Name which, if enabled, displays on the Cloud Org List.

Note:

• Org Name specifies the name of your organization (RainPole). You know that theOrg Name you must enter is "RainPole". However, tenant admins are sometimesunsure of the org name they need to enter into the Org Name field. In such cases,a tenant admin can check his/her cloud to find the Org Names. To do so, go to thelast lesson in this module "Finding Org Names".

• Hostname specifies the host for RainPole's VMware vCloud Director.

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4. Once you have entered your cloud org details, click Create. The Cloud Org VDCstab opens.

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Specifying Cloud Org VDCs

Note: If your console is not displaying the Admin UI, click on the Core bookmark alongthe top of the browser to open the Admin UI.

1. In order to deploy your template as a vApp, VMware Learning Platform must knowof an organization’s virtual data center (VDC) in which to deploy it and anorganization VDC network to connect it. VMware Learning Platform automaticallyfills-in all the fields for you (Name, Allocation Model, Storage Threshold and VmQuota). However, you must enable (set to True) at least one organization virtualdatacenter so that VMware Learning Platform can deploy the vApp template.

2. Once you have enabled deployment (True), click Update. The Cloud Catalogs tabopens.

Note: There are reasons an admin would enable one VDC as opposed to another. It iscommon to have one VDC that includes all master vApp templates and one or moreother VDCs that may be used to actually provision labs.

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Specifying a Cloud Catalog

You must enable at least one cloud catalog to enable vApp templates for your tenant:

1. In the Cloud Catalogs tab, enable (set to True) at least one catalog you wantVMware Learning Platform to use. Enabled means that the templates contained ina catalog are available to VMware Learning Platform. VMware Learning Platformneeds access to templates in order to build a lab. The example above shows aCloud Catalogs tab with enabled catalogs.

2. Click Update. You have now finished creating a cloud and thus connecting yourorganization’s VMware vCloud Director to VMware Learning Platform. You canclose the wizard by clicking the X in the top right corner.

Checking your Results: vApp Templates Now Available

1. Now that you have created your cloud org, click Cloud Management>vAppTemplates. The vApp Template List opens and should now list vApp templatesavailable to your tenant as shown in the example above.

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Finding Org Names

You knew that the Org Name you must enter is "RainPole". However, tenant admins aresometimes unsure of the org name they need to enter into the Org Name field. In suchcases, a tenant admin can check his/her cloud to find the Org Names. To do so, proceedas follows:

1. Point the browser in the console to:https://vcd-01b.corp.local/cloud/org/RainPole

2. Enter your login credentials: Username: [email protected] Password:VMware1!

3. Go to Settings under the Administration tab as shown in the example abovewhere the Organization name (Org Name) is RainPole.

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Module 2 - Working withDeployment Pools (30

min)

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Creating a Deployment PoolIn the previous module, you created a cloud org and in doing so enabled vApptemplates for your tenant. Your next step is to create a deployment pool.

A deployment pool is a collection of one or more vApp templates and is specific to asingle tenant. Deployment pools are used in the deployment logic of a lab to helpdetermine which labs should use which vApp templates on which clouds. Deploymentpools also manage the pre-deployment of labs which will be discussed later. Note thefollowing regarding the relationship between labs and deployment pools:

• When you create a lab, you must select an existing deployment pool to associateto that lab.

• A deployment pool includes virtual machine metadata values. The metadataprimarily concerns the username, password, notes and a flag for each virtualmachine within the vApp(s) associated to the deployment pool.

• Any lab that does not override the virtual machine metadata values in itsassociated deployment pool gets those values.

Because of the deployment pool/lab relationship, it is best to create a deployment poolbefore creating a lab. This module guides you through the tabs of the CreateDeployment Pool form.

Note: If you do not have time to create your own deployment pool, use the tenantselector and switch to rainpole2. Rainpole2 already has a deployment pool created foryou and also includes a cloud org, lab and a catalog.

Entering Basic Info

To create a deployment pool:

Note: If your console is not displaying the Admin UI, click on the Core bookmark alongthe top of the browser to open the Admin UI.

1. Click Cloud Management>Deployment Pools. The Deployment Pool Listopens.

2. Click Create Deployment Pool. The Create Deployment Pool form opens withthe Basic Info tab current.

3. Enter details about the deployment pool you want to create:

• Name: RainpoleDP• Description: Deployment pool for rainpole lab• Initial vApp Template: Select 2VM_VAPP from the Manage List View pull-down.

The vApp template you select, will be “contained” in the deployment pool you arecreating. When you are creating a deployment pool, you can only select a single,“primary” vApp template. However, you can later add additional vApp templates.

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The role of a primary vApp template is to enforce identical structure. That is, alltemplates in a pool must have the same number of virtual machines, sameoperating system, same CPU and memory, same virtual machine names and soon. The system starts with one template (primary) and checks any templateadded to the pool to ensure it matches the template(s) currently in the pool.Later on you can add other vApp templates from additional clouds to the samedeployment pool. For example, VMworld uses 7 different clouds thus in a singledeployment pool the list would contain 7 different identical vApp templates.

4. Click Create. The system creates RainpoleDB and opens the Edit vApp Templatestab.

Editing the vApp Template

You can use the Edit vApps Templates tab to edit the vApp template you chose (theprimary vApp template) or to add templates. You can also delete templates.

All the vApp templates within a deployment pool must have an identical structure. Thusany vApp template that you add becomes part of a collection of a vApp templates.There is no particular difference between a primary and an additional vApp templatebeyond the primary’s role in enforcing identical structure.

1. For the purpose of this lab, no other vApp templates with the same structurehave been made available. Retain 2_VM_VAPP to be the only template in the

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pool and set the values as shown in the example above (Refill At: 1; Fill Up 10;Prepops: 0). The additional values will be discussed in the next step.

2. Click Update. The system opens the Edit VM Metadata tab.

Deployment Pools and PrePops

It is important that you have an understanding about about prepops and prepop values.Read the following brief summary about prepops:

• If you do add vApp templates to a deployment pool, then the deployment poolaggregates vApp template values.

• Some vApps are hundreds of gigabytes in size and thus it could take time for alab to deploy. In order to create a better user experience, VMware LearningPlatform utilizes the prepop feature. The prepop feature deploys an instance of alab ahead of user demand and leaves it running. Thus when a user requests aninstance of that lab, VMware Learning Platform connects that user to an alreadyrunning copy in a matter of seconds, and then queues up another deployment ofa pre-pop for future

• Refill At sets a value for the least amount of available prepops. If the number ofavailable prepops goes below the Refill At value, then the system deploysprepops (refills) until the Refill At value is met.

• Fill Up sets a value to reach (fill up) for the number of prepops to be deployed.• Prepops sets a value for the number of prepops actually deployed.• Available is the number of prepops actually ready to use for taking a lab. This as

opposed to "provisioning", which refers to the number of vApp templates being“booted up” but not yet ready to use for taking a lab.

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Editing VM Metadata

Use the VM Metadata tab to edit the metadata of the virtual machines available to thedeployment pool and to select an initial console. If you have multiple VMs in a vApp andyou allow a user to see all of the VMs, then the initial console radio button determineswhich VM console will be displayed to the user first.

1. On the VMMetadata tab, enable VM2 as the initial console, then click > . The tabexpands to allow you edit the metadata for VM2.

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Editing the Virtual Machine You Selected

1. In the expanded tab, enable the Visible button to make VM2 visible in the initialconsole for the lab you will create.

2. Leave the Username, Password and Notes fields empty. These fields can be usedto provide helpful information to the user of the VM. For example, by providing ausername and a password the user will have real-time information on the VMconsole screen on how to login to the VM. Similarly the notes field is useful forknown issues in the VM, last minute notes, or serial numbers.

3. Click Update to update the deployment pool. You have now finished creatingyour deployment pool (RainpoleDP). You can click the X to dismiss the wizard.

Viewing Details of your Deployment Pool

1. On the Deployment Pool List page, find RainpoleDP and click ... to open a pull-down of options.

2. On the pull-down, click More Details. The View Deployment Pool page listsdetails for the deployment pool you created as shown in the example above.

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Note the following about details:

• Available: Number of prepops actually ready to use for taking a lab.• Provisioning: Refers to the number of vApp templates being “booted up” but not

yet ready to use for taking a lab.• Error Count: Number of prepops that failed to deploy.• Hit: Number times users got pre-pops when requested.• Miss: Number of times users got a full deployment of a lab and thus had to wait.

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Module 3 - Working withLabs and Catalogs (30

min)

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Creating a LabOnce you have created a deployment pool, your next step is to create a lab. This lessonguides you through the tabs of the Create Lab form. The form allows you lots offlexibility regarding the features your lab will include.

Note: If you do not have time to create your own lab, use the tenant selector and selectrainpole2. Rainpole2 already has a lab created for you and also includes a cloud org,deployment pool and catalog.

Entering Basic Lab Info

To get started with creating a lab:

1. Click Labs>Labs. The Labs List page opens.2. Click + Create Lab to add a new lab. The Create Lab form opens with the Basic

Lab Info tab current.3. Enter details about the lab in the Basic Lab Info tab. For this lab, enter the

following info:

• Lab Code: Rainpole• Name: Rainpole Lab• Deployment Pool: Select RainpoleDP from the Manage List View pull-down. This

is the deployment pool you created in the previous module.

4. Click Create. The Edit Settings tab opens.

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Configuring Lab Settings

The Edit Settings tab contains fields that configure your lab's settings.

1. Keep things simple and retain all the defaults on the tab. Remember that yourhands-on-lab desktop should include a folder (VLP Manuals) containing the AdminGuide which includes descriptions of every Edit Settings tab field.

2. On the Edit Settings tab, click Update. The Edit Content and MetaData tabopens.

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Configuring Content and Metadata Settings

The Edit Content and MetaData tab contains fields that configure your lab's content,primarily for how it is displayed in the UserUI catalog listing. This content includesthumbnail images, network topology images and a lab manual. A lab manual isparticularly important content.

1. In the Manual field, select the manual First Lab Manual from the pull-down. Thismanual has been created for you so that you have it available for the lab you arecreating. Note that selecting "First Lab Manual" makes available all the languageversions of it that have been published and thus made available to your tenant.Module 6 "Working with Manuals" explains multiple language support formanuals.

2. Again, keep things simple and retain all the defaults other than the manual youselected.

3. Click Update. The Edit VM Metadata tab opens.

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Configuring VM Metadata Settings

Use the initial console from the deployment pool you created.

1. Check Use Initial Console from Deployment Pool to default to the initialconsole as defined in the vApp of the deployment pool you selected (RainpoleDP)in the Basic Info tab.

2. Click Update. You have created a lab. The Lab List page should now include thelab that you just created and should now be included within the deployment poolRainpoleDP.

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Creating a CatalogNow that you have created a lab, you must create a lab catalog to "contain" it. Thislesson guides you through the tabs of the Create Catalog form.

Note: If you do not have time to create your own catalog, use the tenant selector andselect rainpole2. Rainpole2 already has a catalog created for you and also includes acloud org, lab and deployment pool.

Lab Console Before You Create a Catalog

To see what your lab console looks like before you create a catalog, do the following:

1. Click on UserUI bookmark along the top of the browser in your console. Or pointyour browser to the following URL: http://www.vmwarelearningplatform.local/rainpole

2. If the system displays the Login page, enter your login credentials:


Note: Ensure that your lab console has rainpole as the current tenant.

As the example above shows, your lab console is empty. There are no catalogs (and nolabs) displayed. This is logical because you have not yet created a catalog to "contain"the lab you created earlier.

3. Click on the Core bookmark along the top of the browser in your console to goback to the Admin UI.

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http://www.vmwarelearningplatform.local/rainpole

http://www.vmwarelearningplatform.local/rainpole

Configuring the Catalog Settings

To get started with creating a catalog, proceed as follows:

1. Click Catalog Info>Catalogs. The Catalogs List opens.2. On the Catalogs List, click + Create. The Create Catalog page opens.3. On the Create Catalog page, configure the lab catalog with the following settings:

• Name: RainPole• Short Description: RainPole• Description: Enter a description similar to to the example above.• Enabled: Select to enable the lab catalog. If not selected, the default, the lab

catalog is saved in the system but not available to any VMware Learning Platformtenants;

• Courses: This option is not yet implemented. (Once implemented, you will be ableto include a lab as part of a course).

• Labs: From the Manage List View pull-down list, select the lab Rainpole toassociate it to this catalog.

• Tenant Groups: Select All Users from the pull-down. The Tenant Groups fieldallows you to select which groups of users in your tenant can see the lab(s)associated to the catalog. Do not leave this field blank.

4. Click Create. The View Catalog page opens and includes your catalog.

Reviewing Your Results: Does the lab console include yourlab within your Catalog ?

To see the results for the lab and catalog you created:

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1. Click on the UserUI bookmark along the top of the browser in your console. Orpoint your browser to the following URL:http://www.vmwarelearningplatform.local/rainpole

2. If the system displays the Login page, enter your login credentials:


1. Once the lab console opens, click Labs along the left panel. Ensure that your labconsole has rainpole as the current tenant. The system displays a page whichshould include the catalog you created: RainPole.

2. Click Rainpole to list all the labs included within that catalog. In this case, thecatalog RainPole contains only a single lab (called Rainpole Lab). If the catalogdoes not in fact include the lab, then check your catalog (Rainpole) to ensure youhave enabled the catalog and associated it to Rainpole Lab. Also ensure that youselected "All Users" in the Tenant Groups field.

3. Click on the Core bookmark along the top of your console to go back to theAdmin UI.

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Module 4 - Working withSecurity Options (5 min)

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Working with User AccountsNow that you have a lab and a catalog to contain it, you must create a user account(s)for your tenant. This lesson guides you through the Create Account form. You use thisform to create users, assign them roles (for example user or admin). A user is someonethat will be taking the labs in the tenant while an admin has tenant administrative rights(Admin UI).

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Creating User Accounts

1. Click Security>User Controls. The Account List opens.2. On the Account List, click +Create. The Create Account form opens. Use it to

create a new user for your tenant. Try creating an account for a colleague. As anexample, create the user "John Smith".

• In Required Fields enter the following information:• User/Email: [email protected]• FirstName: John• LastName: Smith• DisplayName: John Smith• Company: Rainpole Company• Password: testpassword

3. In the User Roles section, check User Role and Admin. Note that a user can havemultiple roles.

4. In the Groups section, ensure that the All Users tenant group populates the field.This tenant group has been created for you and provides permissions to thecatalog you created (RainPole). If you do not select a group (leave the Groupsfield empty), then your new user (John Smith) will not be able to access thecatalog you created (RainPole) nor the lab it contains (Rainpole lab).

5. In the Notification section, check Send Welcome/Verify email. This enables thesending of a "welcome" email to a new user. When a new user receives thewelcome email, it will include include information that allows the new user to"verify" his/her account. A new user must "verify" in order to be able to log intothe tenant.

6. Click Create. The system creates the new account.

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Two Scenarios: Catalog Permissions vs. No CatalogPermissions

Assume your new user (John Smith) has received his welcome email and verified hisaccount. He could then log into the lab console. To understand the importance of thepermissions a tenant group provides to a user, consider following two scenarios:

• Scenario A: When you created user John Smith, you assigned him to the "AllUsers" group (from the Groups section of the Create Account form). Thus userJohn Smith gained permissions to the catalog you created (RainPole) and his labconsole will show the RainPole catalog and the lab it contains, Rainpole Lab.

• Scenario B: When you created user John Smith, you did not assign him to anyuser group (you left the Groups field empty). Thus user John Smith did not gainpermissions to the catalog you created and his lab console will not show anycatalog.

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Module 5 - Branding aTenant (5 min)

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Using the Coloring and Logo OptionsOrganizations often want to brand their products or, in this case, a learningenvironment. The Branding option allows you to style the look/feel of a lab console ortenant administration user interface with your organization's brand.

Using the Coloring Option

The Styling page includes several coloring options that all work in the same manner. Tryusing the Top Header Color option:

1. Click on Tenant Management>Branding to open the Styling page.2. On the Styling page, click on Top Header Color. A color palette opens from

which you can select a color and shade.3. Use your cursor to select a color/shade. Select the color red. Note that once you

click within the color palette, the preview tab previews the results. The PreviewAdmin tab shows the top header colored red as shown in the example above.

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Adding a Logo

The Logo option allows you to browse to and load a logo for your organization.

1. In the Load Logo File field, click Browse and go to Control Center/Desktop andload RainPoleLogo.png. This logo image file has been created for you. ThePreview tab previews the RainPole logo.

Saving your Branding

If you do not save your Branding changes, then they will be lost once you log out. Clickthe Save button.

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Checking Your Results: User UI with your Branding

To check the results of your branding, proceed as follows:

1. Click the UserUI bookmark to open the end user lab console. Ensure that yourlab console has rainpole as the current tenant. The example above shows thebranding you configured earlier: A colored top bar (shade of red) and the RainpoleCompany logo.

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Module 6 - Working withManuals (15 min)

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Getting Started with the ContentEngineIn an earlier module, while creating your lab, you selected an instructional manual (FirstLab Manual) which had been prepared for you. You can use the Content Engine UI tocreate your own manuals. The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize you with theContent Engine UI by creating an example manual.

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Creating a Manual

To get started, create a new manual that has no content. Think of this new manual as akind of container that is currently empty. In the next lesson you will add instructionalcontent into this container.

1. On the Admin UI, click Content>Content Engine. A login page opens.2. Enter your admin login credentials:

• user: [email protected]• password: VMware1!

Note: You can also click on the Content bookmark along the top of the browser in yourconsole to open the Content Engine UI.

Upon a successful login, the Manual List page opens.

1. On the Manual List page, click Create. The Add a New Manual dialog box opens.2. Enter a name for the manual. Enter the name "TestManual" and click Create. The

Manual List page re-opens and now includes the manual you just created.3. On the Manual List page, along TestManual, click ... and then click Manage from

the pull-down that appears. The Instances page opens (shown above). You nowhave created an empty, working instance with a default language of English (en).

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Importing Content and PublishingNow that you have created a working instance, you will want to add content into it.

VMware Learning Platform lab instructional content is typically written by a technicalcourse instructor or a subject matter expert (SME) using an authoring tool. For example,this manual was written using ScreenSteps.

About Language Support: The Content Engine provides language support. In an earliermodule, you assigned the manual First Lab Manual to your lab (Rainpole Lab). You canuse the Content Engine to make different, translated versions of a manual available toyour tenant. When an end user launches your lab, the lab console will default to thelanguage version according to that user’s language preferences. Language preferencesare set using the My Profile option in the Lab console.

About the On-board editor and Export option: The Content Engine includes an on-boardeditor that you can use format/edit instructional content. You could then use the Exportoption to make the manual available to be imported. To keep things simple, this manualwill not include an editor lesson or discuss the Export option. You can refer to theContent Editor Guide which describes, in detail, the features of the on-board editor. Yourhands-on-lab desktop should include a folder (VLP Manuals) that contains the guide.

To familiarize you with the features of the Content Engine UI, this lesson guides youthrough the following:

1. Importing an existing manual that contains instructional content.2. Promoting that imported manual to be a "working" instance. When you want to

make changes to a manual, you make the changes to a working instance. Forexample, you could open a working instance and use the on-board editor to maketext formatting or paging changes.

3. Creating a second working instance in a different language (German).4. Publishing both working instances so that they become available to your tenant.

You must publish working instances to make them available to your tenant.

Importing and Promoting

To import content into your working instance of TestManual, proceed as follows:

1. On the Manual List page, along TestManual click ... (the ellipsis) to open a pull-down, then click Manage from the pull-down. The Instances page opens.

2. On the Instances page, click Import Manual. The Import Manual Content boxopens. It allows you to browse and select a manual to import.

3. Click Choose Files and navigate to ControlCenter>Desktop>Lab Manualsand select the zip folder FirstLabManual_English.zip. This is an Englishlanguage, sample instructional manual that has been prepared for you.

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4. Click Upload. If your import was successful, VMware Learning Platform displaysan “Import Successful” message. Note that manuals you import must be in theproper format which is .zip file containing a properly formatted xml file. You havenow have an imported instance of TestManual and a working instance ofTestManual.

5. Along the imported instance, click Promote to Working as shown in theexample above. A message appears stating that "You already have a working tocof this language. This action will override it".

6. Click OK.The system promotes your imported manual instance to become theworking manual instance of TestManual. You now have a single working instanceof TestManual and it now includes instructional content.

Note: Remember, you can edit/format a working instance using the Content Engine'son-board editor but this lesson, to keep things simple, will not include using the editor.

Using Multiple Language Support: Adding a New WorkingInstance in Another Language

The Content Engine cannot translate a manual. Translation must be done by a contentprovider. But the Content Engine does support having multiple language versions of thesame manual. This multiple language support is very useful because lab consolesinclude a Profile Settings option. A lab user can set the Profile Settings to associate his/her lab console to a version of the lab manual in the selected language.

To create a second working instance of TestManual translated into another language,proceed as follows:

1. On the Manual List page, click TestManual. The Instance Name page opens.2. On the Instance Name page, click + Add A New Manual. The Add a New Manual

form opens.

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3. In the form, enter TestManual in the Name field and select German from the pull-down of the Language field.

4. Click Create. The system creates a second working manual instance calledTestManual with a German tag (de). Note that this instance is currently empty -no content.

5. Click Import Manual. The Import Manual Content dialog opens.6. Click Browse and navigate to ControlCenter>Desktop>Lab Manuals and

select the zip folder FirstLabManual_German.zip. This is an German language,sample instructional manual that has been prepared for you.

7. Click Upload. The Instances page should now include an instance of TestManualwith a status of Imported and a language of de.

8. Along the imported, German instance, click Promote to Working as shown inthe example above. A message appears stating that "You already have a workingtoc of this language. This action will override it".

9. Click OK. The system promotes your imported german instance to become asecond working instance. You should now have two working instances ofTestManual: a German one and an English one and both now have content.

Publishing a Manual

Important: You must publish working instances in order for them to be available toyour tenant. Once available to your tenant, you (the tenant administrator) can then usethe Tenant Admin Dashboard to associate a manual to a lab. You did exactly that in anearlier lesson when you associated First Lab Manual to Rainpole lab.

To publish a working instance, proceed as follows:

1. On the Instance page, click Publish along the German (de) working instance ofTestManual.

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2. If VMware Learning Platform has successfully published your manual, then itdisplays a confirmation. The published manual is now available to your tenant(rainpole).

3. Next click Publish along the English (en) working instance of TestManual topublish it and make it available to your tenant. You must publish all the languageversions of a manual to make them available to your tenant.

Setting Lab Console Language Preferences

An end user sets the language preferences for a lab in the end user UI (lab console). Butbefore an end user can do that, you (the tenant admin) must associate the manual withthe lab. In the example case of TestManual, for which you created English and Germanversions, you would have to associate TestManual to Rainpole lab.

1. Click the Core shortcut to open the Admin UI.2. In the Admin UI, click Labs>Labs. The Labs List page opens.3. On the Labs List, along Rainpole click ... (the ellipsis) to open a pull-down.4. On the pull-down, click EditLab to open an edit lab form.5. On the form, open the Edit Content and Metadata tab.6. In the Edit Content and Metadata tab, go to the Manual field and select

TestManual.7. Click Update. Rainpole lab has now been updated to be associated with

TestManual.

Now that you have associated Rainpole Lab to TestManual, an end user can launchRainpole lab and set its language preferences. You can go ahead and try settinglanguage setting languages yourself now:

1. Click on the UserUI bookmark along the top of the browser in your console toopen the end-user UI. (Or point the browser to the following:http://www.vmwarelearningplatform.local/rainpole)

2. If a Login page appears, enter your login credentials:


2. Once the lab console opens, click My Profile>Preferences. The lab'sPreferences form opens.

3. Select German from the Language field's pull-down.

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4. Click Save.5. Click End to end the lab. The next time Rainpole Lab is launched, the system will

open its lab console using the German version (de) of TestManual that youpreviously published.

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Module 7 - Managing anEvent (15min)

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Accessing the Event Management UIVMware® Learning Platform™ provides a separate user interface (UI) for eventmanagement which allows tenant administrators, proctors and help desk staff to:

• Create a room, a seating map for the room and multiple sections within the room.A room is a matrix of lab stations with a given name.

• Register a lab station(s).• Manage student issues and problems. An issue is a help request from a student,

while a problem means a technical fix to the station or lab is required.

This lesson guides you through creating and editing a room.

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Creating a Room

The Event Management UI includes options that allow you to create a room and multiplesections within the room. For example, at an event you could create a main seatingroom, then add four additional hands-on-lab “hotspots” scattered around the conferencefacility for a total of five rooms. In your main room, you could include several differentsections for the different numbered stations.

To create a room:

Note: Should the system ask you to authenticate to enter the Event Management UI:


1. On the Administration UI, click Events>Event Management. (Or click theEventMgmt shortcut along the top of your console.) The Event Management UIopens.

2. On the toolbar, click Admin. The Admin page opens.3. On the Admin page, click + Create. An untitled room opens having a default

seating map.4. Click Edit Name to give your room a name.5. Specify a name for your room. Specify “Example Room”. Click OK.6. Click the icon next to the section's default title to specify your own name for your

seating section. Specify “Example Section”. Click OK.7. Click Save to save the room (Example Room) you just created. It contains a

single section (Example section) as shown above.

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Editing a Room

You can edit an existing room:

1. On the toolbar, click Admin. The Admin page opens.2. Click Edit along Example Room, which you created earlier, to open it for editing.

Note: The options to work with a room’s rows, columns and sections vary dependingupon whether you are in Trad view or BYOD view. A Trad view refers to a room in whichthe stations are desktops provided at the event. A BYOD (bring your own device) viewrefers to a room in which the attendees have brought their own laptop. Familiarizeyourself with the options available of each view.

3. Try using the row/column and section options to edit your room. For example, youcan add rows and columns

4. Click Save to save the changes to your room.

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Registering StationsThis lesson guides you through registering a station. Registering a station accomplishesthe following:

• Links the station to the Event Management UI and specifically to the seatingqueue.

• Allows the system to track which users are logged in, what lab the logged-inusers are taking and their station status.

• Allows the system to track a user that has clicked the Help link in order todetermine what station the user is on and what lab the user is taking so a proctorfor that lab can be dispatched to that station.

Go to the URL

1. In the browser in your console, go to the following URL:https://www.vmwarelearningplatform.local/rainpole/event

2. Enter the admin credentials: Username: [email protected] Password:VMware1!

3. For Station Identification, enter a valid seat number from the Example Roomcreated earlier (e.g. 123)

4. Click Register.5. Upon a successful attempt, the system displays a message that you have

registered the station.

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Creating Seating TicketsUsers must be moved through a seating queue to have a seating ticket printed for them.Once moved through the queue, the user then presents a seating ticket to an eventstaff member to be seated at a station. This lesson guides you through seating queueoptions.

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Moving a User Through the Queue

1. Go to either the Trad or BYOD view to open the seating queue. The Accountscolumn lists each user, Waiting lists those users waiting to be seated, Called listsusers that have been called to be seated and Log lists users that have beenseated.

2. Use the Accounts column to conduct a search. Enter an account in the Searchbox. When the system finds the account, it inserts it into Accounts column. Forexample, if you enter the user “jsmith”, then the system inserts that account.

3. Click >> to forward a user into the next column (Waiting). Or you can click >>| tofast-forward a user directly to the Called column.

4. In the Log column, click on the printer icon next to a username to print aseating ticket for that user. Alternately, you can check Automatically printtickets. The student can present a ticket to an event staff member to be seated.

5. You can click on either the Trad or BYOB map, depending on which queue youmoved the user through. If you had registered the user with a station numberthat exists on the map, then the station should be highlighted in yellow andmousing over it will show whom is seated there. In the example shown above,station 123 is highlighted.

Note the following:

• Clicking X to removes a user from a queue• In the Log column, "Seated" means a user was called and then seated• In the Log column, "Gave Up" means a student was called but never took a seat• In the Log column, if the "Automatically prints tickets" checkbox at the top is

selected, then the system automatically prints a seating ticket as soon as a usermoves to the column

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ConclusionThank you for participating in the VMware Hands-on Labs. Be sure to visithttp://hol.vmware.com/ to continue your lab experience online.

Lab SKU: HOL-HBD-1685

Version: 20151005-054737

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http://hol.vmware.com/

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