Lab Access Cloud Quick Start Guide

Last updated on 07 February 2017

Contents

1       General information. 1
2       Requirements 3
3       Copy & Paste, Filetransfer, Fullscreen mode
4       Sharing, share interactively
5       Troubleshooting

1 General information

1.1 Purpose

This document offers a basic guide how to use Lab Access Cloud connections. It covers access to Labs reserved for NokiaEDU Training.

1.2 Intended recipients

Every user who is authorized to access the Lab Access Cloud solution.

1.3 What is needed

You need a supported web browser and access to the Internet or the Nokia Intranet. The supported browsers are Google Chrome, Chromium, Internet Explorer (>= version 10), Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Midori or Opera Browser. For direct Copy & Paste, we recommend Google Chrome, the Open Source variant Chromium or Internet Explorer. To enable clipboard transfers for Chrome based browsers, you must install an extension (see chapter 3). The Internet Explorer supports by default, if you allow it.

Important: In Internet Explorer the "Compatibility mode" must be disabled. Otherwise you will get no login screen.

1.4 How to connect

In your web browser open the link the Testbed provided to you. This can be the local LAC Access Point or a link to the global portal. Anyway if you expect speed issues, open the global portal:
TSP Nokia Connection Test Tool and choose the NokiaEDU Training Lab, that is reserved for you.

You will get a result with available Nokia LAC Access Points, assigned to the selected NokiaEDU Training Lab with the fastest Access Point at the top.

Choose the fastest Access Point and then enter the credentials you have got from NokiaEDU Training Lab Administration:

After login depending on the type of reservation, you get a start page with available connections or you are connected directly using Single Sign On to a Terminalserver.

You can download also a short MP4 video, that illustrates the practical use:
How to use Lab Access Cloud

1.5 Do I have direct lab access after login?

No, you have a virtual lab connection inside the browser only. You do not have direct lab connectivity from your local operating system. No VPN is established or necessary.

1.6 How to get support

In case of Lab access problems, please check again the requirements and if still in trouble, please consult the Troubleshooting & FAQ page or contact the NokiaEDU Team.

2 Requirements

2.1 What web browser is supported

We support Google Chrome, Chromium, Internet Explorer (at least v10, with compatibility mode disabled), Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Midori and Opera. We recommend Google Chrome. Internet Explorer or Edge work usually without problems, if you deactivate "Compatibility Mode".

2.2 Is Java or Citrix Receiver needed?

No, you only need a supported web browser. No additional installation is neccessary.

2.3 What version of web browser is needed

At least all actual Chrome based browsers, Internet Explorer 10, Firefox (at least v32) and any relatively actual HTML5 capable browser should work. Please report us any issues with supported browsers.

2.4 What connection speed is needed

Based on the measurements, these are needed per user:

· minimum download bandwidth 200kbps/user

· minimum upload bandwidth 100kbps/user

· latency < 500 millisecond

Even with worse values the connection will work, but the handling may be delayed and continuous disconnects can occur. Most NokiaEDU Training Labs have assigned additional Access Points in different countries, that may offer a better connection quality. You can easily check by running the Nokia Connection Test Tool.

2.5 How to check connection speed

There are two ways to check connection speed. Please prefer the Nokia Connection Test Tool on TSP , because even if the Access Point of your choice is not reachable from your location, you can run a test to all available NokiaEDU Access Points:

The other way is to open the NokiaEDU Training Lab Access Point and click on "Click to run Speedtest".

· LAC-Startpage

2.6 Problem report and assistance

If you have problems accessing the Lab Access Cloud, please contact local NokiaEDU Training Lab Administration or global NokiaEDU team.

3 Copy & Paste, Filetransfer Fullscreen mode

3.1 Guacamole plugin for Google Chrome

It is possible to directly copy text to/from (c&p) your Lab session using the extension for Google Chrome and Chromium. Internet Explorer since version 11 even supports by default without additional extension. The extension for Chrom based browsers is currently not available for other browsers, but planned also for Firefox. You will find the Chrome extension here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clipboard-permission-mana/ipbhneeanpgkaleihlknhjiaamobkceh

To enable, you must add the extension from link above, open the login page and enable clipboard access for this page like shown below:

Chrome Clipboard Plugin

3.2 How to copy a text

If you don’t use the Chrome plugin, you can copy text after you press Ctrl+Alt+Shift at the same time in your LAC session (within connection window - not Login Screen). This will open the LAC menu, which will help to copy the text using standard Copy & Paste method. To hide the sidebar, press the Ctrl+Alt+Shift again.

Clipboard

File transfers between local computer and the Lab are easy to do with the network drive G:, which is automatically created in RDP session, if the Testbed administrator enabled and allowed it. To copy from local computer to the lab - use drag and drop to the browser window. The files will be visible in the main directory of the G drive:

To copy files from Lab server to the local computer, please copy them to G:\Download folder. This special folder will handle it as a web browser download

When the transfer to Download folder on driveletter G: is completed, the file(s) will be listed in Filebrowser. Click it for downloading it as webbrowser download:

If you are working with a distributed SSH session, you also can use the drive to exchange files between the remote host and your local computer. In this case you do not have drive letter, but you can use the remote drive with the LAC menu. Open and close the LAC menu by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys at the same time:

When you click on the symbol under "Devices", you will see the remote filesystem:

3.4 Enter Fullscreen mode

To enter Fullscreen mode - also known as "Kiosk mode", press the function key F11 before initiating the connection.

4 Screen Sharing, sharing interactively

4.1 Prerequisites

You can share your screen as view only or interactively to an unlimited amount of users, if the Testbed Administrator created a Sharing Profile related to the connection and allowed it for your account. There are two types of sharing possible:
1) Screensharing in view-only mode.
2) Interactive Screensharing. In this mode, every user who opened your share, can interact to your session.

4.2 How to share your session and submit to other users

Sharing is quite easy:
- In a running session press Ctrl+Alt+Shift at the same time. The LAC menu opens.
- If allowed by Testbed Administrator, you will see a Share button. In this example two Sharing Profiles are available - one as view-only and a second as interactive:

- Click on the share entry. You will get displayed a link, that you can submit to other users for example with mail. If they run it in their web browser, they will connect to your session and will be able to see everything, what you are doing:

Here is a short video, that explains how to share and shows the whole process for both sharing modes:
How to share LAC sessions

Important: The share is only active as long as your connection is active. If you close the connection, the share will be closed automatically, also if it is in interactive mode.

5 Troubleshooting

5.1 First step

The first step is always to check the local network connection. If possible try an alternative connection - like eg. with a 3G or 4G device - to determine, if the problems are related to local network connection. It may also depend on configuration of your browser or the proxy, the browser connects to. In this case it may help to use a different browser or reconfigure proxy settings of the browser. Also the browser may have accumulated its cache to an incredible size, what can slow down the connection. If this is the case, simply clear the browser's cache. Most browsers allow direct access to the clear cache function, when you press Shift+Ctrl+Del keys at the same time.

5.2 Connect to faster Access Point (GFE)

Related to source location from where you are trying to connect, it is often a better choice, not to use the LAC-AP of the destination NokiaEDU Training Lab, that it usually submitted by NokiaEDU Training Lab Administration, but instead of that a GFE, which is associated to this NokiaEDU Training Lab. To identify the fastest GFE from your location, run Nokia Connection Test Tool and choose the destination NokiaEDU Training Lab in drop down box.

5.3 Consult local support

If you think, that your problem is a local problem, try to consult local support for help.