Introduction
There are a number of settings you can address as an attendee to optimize your experience. In this doc we will go over the following:
Lab Guidance
Main Console
Keyboard Options & Settings
Lab Controls
Lab Documentation Options
Lab Guidance
The Table of Contents can be accessed in the upper right-hand corner of the Lab Manual. You can use the Table of Contents to access any module of your choosing.
All lab manuals can be downloaded from the Hands-on Labs Document site found at
This lab may be available in other languages. To set your language preference and have a localized manual deployed with your lab, you may utilize this document to help guide you through the process:
Main Console
The area in the RED box contains the Main Console. The Lab Manual is on the tab to the Right of the Main Console.
A particular lab may have additional consoles found on separate tabs in the upper left. You will be directed to open another specific console if needed.
Your lab starts with 90 minutes on the timer. The lab can not be saved. All your work must be done during the lab session. But you can click the EXTEND to increase your time. If you are at a VMware event, you can extend your lab time twice, for up to 30 minutes. Each click gives you an additional 15 minutes. Outside of VMware events, you can extend your lab time up to 9 hours and 30 minutes. Each click gives you an additional hour.
Keyboard Options and Settings
Keyboard Entry
During the lab, you may input text into the Main Console. Besides directly typing it in, there are two very helpful methods of entering data which make it easier to enter complex data.
Click and Drag Lab Manual Content Into Console Active Window
You can also click and drag text and Command Line Interface (CLI) commands directly from the Lab Manual into the active window in the Main Console.
Accessing the Online International Keyboard
You can also use the Online International Keyboard found in the Main Console.
Click on the Keyboard icon found on the Windows Quick Launch Task Bar.
Modifying the Lab Keyboard Settings
In general, the VMware Learning Platform (the Hands-On Lab portal) will automatically detect most settings. However, within the Hands-On Lab portal, the portal itself has additional ANSI-keyboard-related settings in the off-chance some modifications need to be made.
To utilize or optimize these settings, simply browse up to the gear in the upper right-hand corner and click on the gear.
This will bring up the settings window (shown below) which allow for changes to the following:
Interception of COPY/PASTE
Remapping the macOS Command
Manual Keyboard Shortcut support
Non-Ansi Keyboard support
Mouse Scroll Settings
The settings are pretty self-explanatory above so, as an attendee, please feel free to make changes to these settings if you feel the need to alter a setting.
Lab Controls
These are the additional controls for the lab manual use and placement on the screen. Please take a few moments to understand these so your experience within the VMware Hands On Labs is optimal.
Lab Manual Controls
Clicking the Manual tab on the left of the slide-out (right-hand side of the screen) will show or hide the lab manual.
Use of the Lab Manual Controls in the upper left allows you to dock or undock and move the lab manual around to fit your screen.
The MORE OPTIONS menu is disabled in this interface as all features are supported through other means (i.e. Popout Mode).
Using the Font Sizer buttons in the upper-right corner below the More Options menu will change the text size of the lab manual for better viewing.
Additionally, dragging the corners or edges of the lab manual display will allow you to decrease or increase the size of your lab manual.
Clicking on images will show larger pop-out versions of the manuals.
Send Text To Console
In the unlikely event local info is needed to be pasted into the ControlCenter desktop, use the SEND TEXT button to enable the Send text to console feature of the VMware Hands-On Labs.
The SEND TEXT button can be found either directly above the console.
NOTE: The above interface images shown may not look exactly the same but functionality still exists and works as defined.
Switching Console
Within your lab, you may be switching between systems using the VMware Learning Platform (VLP) Consoles tab. By default, this is located on the left side of your browser window.
Once you click on the CONSOLES tab, it will open and allow you to select from the various systems displayed there.
Clicking the "X" will close the console tab.
Ending a Hands-On Lab
For any lab on the VMware Hands-On Labs portal (labs.hol.vmware.com), if you wish to end your lab you may do so by using the END button at the top of the page, then click the CONFIRM button and return to the home page to re-Enroll into a new lab.
NOTE: If an option is presented at the end of the lab to fill out a survey, please take the time and let us know your thoughts on your experiences.
Lab Controls
Using the Lab Console and Manual Controls
You may utilize the Lab Console and Manual Controls to undock both windows and move them around or dock them on different parts of the screen.
Once either of the windows (Lab Manual or Lab Console) are unlocked, you may resize the windows by grabbing an edge or a corner with your mouse pointer.
Using the Split Screen option under the MORE OPTIONS menu may allow you to use a tablet as a second screen to view this manual while you work in the Hands-On Lab. Alternatively, you may browse out to docs.hol.vmware.com from a different device and open your lab's respective manual on that device.
Using the Font Sizer buttons in the upper-right corner below the More Options menu will change the text size of the lab manual for better viewing.
Additionally, dragging the corners or edges of the lab manual display will allow you to decrease or increase the size of your lab manual.
Clicking on images will show larger pop-out versions of.
NOTE: The above interface images shown may not look exactly the same but functionality still exists and works as defined.