Orientation to the Classroom Environment

Orientation to the Classroom Environment

Figure 0.1: Classroom environment

In this course, the main computer system for hands-on learning activities is workstation. Students also use another machine for these activities: servera. The two systems are in the lab.example.com DNS domain.

All student computer systems have a standard user account, student, which uses the password student. The root user password on all student systems is redhat.

Table 1. Classroom Machines

Machine name	IP address	Role
bastion.lab.example.com	172.25.250.254	Gateway system to connect the student private network to the classroom server (must always be running)
classroom.example.com	172.25.254.254	Server that hosts the required classroom materials
workstation.lab.example.com	172.25.250.9	Graphical workstation for student use
servera.lab.example.com	172.25.250.10	Managed server "A"

The primary function of the bastion machine is to act as a router between the network that connects the student machines and the classroom network. If the bastion machine is down, then other student machines can access only the systems that are on the individual student network.

Several systems in the classroom provide supporting services. Two servers, content.example.com and materials.example.com, are sources for software and lab materials in hands-on activities. Information about how to use these servers is provided in the instructions for those activities. The workstation virtual machine provides these activities. Both the classroom and bastion machines must always be running for the proper use of the lab environment.

Note

When logging in to the servera machine, you might see a message about activating the cockpit web console. You can ignore the message.

[student@workstation ~]$ ssh student@servera
Warning: Permanently added 'servera,172.25.250.09' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
Activate the web console with: systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

[student@servera ~]$

Controlling Your Systems

You are assigned remote computers in a Red Hat Online Learning (ROLE) classroom. Self-paced courses are accessed through a web application that is hosted at rol.redhat.com. Log in to this site with your Red Hat Customer Portal user credentials.

Controlling the Virtual Machines

The virtual machines in your classroom environment are controlled through web page interface controls. The state of each classroom virtual machine is displayed on the Lab Environment tab.

Figure 0.2: An example course Lab Environment management page

Table 2. Machine States

Virtual Machine State Description

building The virtual machine is being created.

active The virtual machine is running and available. If it just started, it might still be starting services.

stopped The virtual machine is completely shut down. On starting, the virtual machine boots into the same state that it was in before shutdown. The disk state is preserved.

Table 3. Classroom Actions

Button or Action Description

CREATE Create the ROLE classroom. Creates and starts all the needed virtual machines for this classroom. Creation can take several minutes to complete.

CREATING The ROLE classroom virtual machines are being created. Creates and starts all the needed virtual machines for this classroom. Creation can take several minutes to complete.

DELETE Delete the ROLE classroom. Destroys all virtual machines in the classroom. All saved work on those systems' disks is lost.

START Start all virtual machines in the classroom.

STARTING All virtual machines in the classroom are starting.

STOP Stop all virtual machines in the classroom.

Table 4. Machine Actions

Button or Action Description

OPEN CONSOLE Connect to the system console of the virtual machine in a new browser tab. You can log in directly to the virtual machine and run commands, when required. Normally, log in to the workstation virtual machine only, and from there, use ssh to connect to the other virtual machines.

ACTION → Start Start (power on) the virtual machine.

ACTION → Shutdown Gracefully shut down the virtual machine, preserving disk contents.

ACTION → Power Off Forcefully shut down the virtual machine, while still preserving disk contents. This action is equivalent to removing the power from a physical machine.

ACTION → Reset Forcefully shut down the virtual machine and reset associated storage to its initial state. All saved work on that system's disks is lost.

At the start of an exercise, if instructed to reset a single virtual machine node, then click ACTION → Reset for only that specific virtual machine.

At the start of an exercise, if instructed to reset all virtual machines, then click ACTION → Reset on every virtual machine in the list.

If you want to return the classroom environment to its original state at the start of the course, then click DELETE to remove the entire classroom environment. After the lab is deleted, then click CREATE to provision a new set of classroom systems.

The Auto-stop and Auto-destroy Timers

The Red Hat Online Learning enrollment entitles you to a set allotment of computer time. To help to conserve your allotted time, the ROLE classroom uses timers, which shut down or delete the classroom environment when the appropriate timer expires.

To adjust the timers, locate the two + buttons at the bottom of the course management page. Click the auto-stop + button to add another hour to the auto-stop timer. Click the auto-destroy + button to add another day to the auto-destroy timer. Auto-stop has a maximum of 11 hours, and auto-destroy has a maximum of 14 days. Be careful to keep the timers set while you are working, so that your environment is not unexpectedly shut down. Be careful not to set the timers unnecessarily high, which could waste your subscription time allotment.