1. Online virtual labs: The hidden gem for free hands-on learning, practice, and exploration
CA Callahan

2. TechNet Virtual Hands on Labs
us/virtuallabs

3. Virtual Lab Page Key Features
Search Field
Filter list
Lab or Guide tiles
and descriptions

4. TechNet Virtual Hands-on Labs actually offers:
Guided Experience (or interactive guides)
The Guided Experience offerings are NOT hands-on, self directed labs.
They are step-by-step videos that cover how to do a particular task.
They can be used side by side while you are experimenting, to follow
along as they cover the steps. Often thorough, useful information. Like
having a learning proctor at home.
Virtual Hands-On Labs
The Hands-On Labs are handled by the Labs-On-Demand crew that are
running the Ignite 2017 labs. So the TechNet Virtual Hands-On Labs
page is on TechNet’s web site, but there is a transition to the LODS
Virtual lab environment. Each lab has several virtual machines within it,
which vary depending on what the lab requires. Labs are usually about
2 hours long. They are destroyed after the lab either times out or you
end your session.

5. What are the TechNet Virtual Labs for?
9/11/2018 5:26 PM
What are the TechNet Virtual Labs for?
Learning and practice
Experimenting
Exploring
The labs are intended to be used with learning guides. Manuals that take you step by step lesson to achieve a goal. The virtual machines and other resources for each lab are designed to meet the goals of the learning guides.
If you need to learn something for which there isn’t an explicit learning guide, choose the lab that most closely matches your requirements, and use an alternative source as your manual. You will have the resources you need to do your experimenting, without exactly following the specific guide for the lab.
If you are interested in how to correctly configure a product, or you would like to explore one feature for which there isn’t an explicit lab- find the lab that will have the servers available or feature you can configure, and use that lab.
© 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

6. Common experience What to expect Select your lab
Lab or Guide is provisioned
Use the filter to find the lab that will suit your needs.
Once you’ve logged in, the Learn On Demand process starts. It will provision the interactive guides, Guided Experience, or Hands On Labs. It’s from this site that you actually do the labs or other experiences. They usually have a limit of about 2 hours.
Log in using a Microsoft ID
These labs allow you to briefly pause a session and come back to it. This page is HOLSystems, for the log in. This is basically a launch page. It will pop up a dialog box for you to use your Microsoft ID to log in. Then, it will switch from Sign in, to Start Lab on that page. Most of these labs will not work in Edge, they require desktop Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox. There will also likely be an add-on “Lab On Demand Enhanced Controller” for Internet Explorer.
The interface will be almost exactly that the Hands On Labs used here at Ignite. On the right is the lab manual and a tab for switching between the virtual machines used for the lab. Along the bottom are instructions, hints, etc. And on the top right are icons that drop down additional functions that you can explore in the labs, with proctors to help, while you are here at this event.

7. Tips, Tricks, Gotchas Tips, tricks, gotchas Tips and Tricks
These labs are completely free without any strings attached
They are often the labs from past events (in the future they could come from this event)
The landing page for the TechNet Virtual Labs can be slow to load and react. Be patient
The search and filtering can be tricky. Beware of combos
Remember that there are two different kinds of offerings: Guided Experiences and Hands on Labs
If your experimenting requires internet access, chose a lab that is likely to have that resource.
Gotcha
They are not often updated
The version of software used is often not brand new, but can be close enough for learning and experimentation
Not all lab virtual machines have internet access themselves
Azure and O365 change frequently, but the lab manuals are static, be prepared for out of date links
Some labs require YOU to have a trial copy of the product, like Azure
Everything is a trial version, it is free

8. Microsoft Hands On Labs

9. Microsoft Hands-On Labs Page Key Features
Self-paced Labs
or Instructor Led
Labs
Featured Labs

10. Microsoft Hands-on Labs actually offers:
Instructor Led Labs
Instructor led labs are led by a real human being. As such, they have to
be scheduled so that you and the instructor are there at the same time.
The instructor will be remote, and you will be following them while
using the hands-on lab. There are only so many available and
the schedule is limited.
Self-Paced Hands-On Labs
The Hands-On Labs are handled by the Labs-On-Demand crew that are
running the Ignite 2017 labs. So the Microsoft Hands-On Labs
page is on Microsoft’s Online Labs web site, but there is a transition to
the LODS Virtual lab environment. Each lab can have several virtual
machines within it, which vary depending on what the lab requires.
Labs are usually about 2 hours long. They are destroyed after the lab
either times out or you end your session.

11. All Self-Paced Labs Page Key Features
Search Field
Filters
Lab Tiles

12. Common experience What to expect Login in using your Microsoft ID
Lab is provisioned
This page does login a little differently. There are three options to log in. To simply use the labs, log in with a Microsoft ID.
Once you’ve logged in, the Learn On Demand process starts, as expected. It will provision the Self-Paced Hands On Labs. The labs usually have a limit of about 2 hours.
Additional Information
The interface will be very much like the Hands On Labs use here at Ignite. On the right is the lab manual and a tab for switching between the virtual machines used for the lab. Along the bottom there will be instructions, hints, etc. And on the top right are icons that drop down additional functions that you can explore in the labs, with proctors to help, while you are here at this event. It’s worth learning this environment before leaving Ignite.
This environment may require you to add information to your login essentially creating a profile. It does ask for a phone number, which may be for multi-factor authentication. Enter a number for a phone you are likely to have available for text messages when you are doing these labs.

13. Online virtual labs: The hidden gem for free hands-on learning, practice, and exploration
CA Callahan

14. Please evaluate this session
Tech Ready 15
9/11/2018
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© 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.