Using the lab action options in VMware Lab Platform

Each lab listed on the VMware Lab Platform lab portal includes the lab status and the lab action options. As a lab user, you can use the lab action options to optimize your lab experience. While you are working on a lab, you can use lab options to extend the time remaining in your lab, to end or temporarily exit a lab, or to submit your lab results for grading. You can also use lab options to set your lab keyboard and console attributes.

Table 1. VMware Lab Platform lab action options

Lab status	Description
Enroll	If you are not enrolled in a lab, then VMware Lab Platform displays the Enroll option. To enroll for a lab, click the Enroll option. After you enroll in the lab, you see the Start This Lab option. If you are already enrolled in a lab, then the VMware Lab Platform system displays the Enrolled option. To display the Start This Lab option, click the Enrolled button. To view the all labs that you have enrolled for, use the My Enrollments option.
Start the Lab	After you enroll for a lab, you see the Start the Lab option that let's you to start the lab.
Log out	To log out of the VMware Lab Platform interface, open the user name drop-down menu options, and click Log out.
Resume This Lab	If you exited a lab (but not ended it) before completing it, then the system displays the Resume This Lab option. If you want to resume the lab where you left, click Resume This Lab.

Lab status options

Lab status options are located on the ribbon above the console pane. They include the following settings:

Table 2. Lab status options and descriptions

Status Options	Descriptions
Time Remaining	Displays the amount of time remaining for you to complete your lab. Note: Labs have two time limits: Time Remaining and Expiration Date. Time remaining is the total amount of time that the lab can be active. The counter for Time Remaining only changes when the lab is in use. When the Expiration Date arrives, the lab ends even if there is allotted time still available. For example, a lab might have been configured with a one-hour limit to do the lab, but expire in three days. As a result, you can use the lab for up to one hour of total time and break up that time into smaller intervals spread out over three days. In this case, the lab would end when the first of the time limits is reached.
End	Displays a screen that allows you to confirm or cancel the ending of your lab. If you confirm that you want to “end” your lab, then VMware Lab Platform considers you have completed the lab and returns you to the VMware Lab Platform lab console login page. As a result, you are unable to resume the lab. You must click Exit to come back and resume your lab.
Exit	Displays a screen that allows you to confirm or cancel the exiting from your lab. If you confirm that you want to “exit” your lab, VMware Lab Platform returns you to the lab console login page. VMware Lab Platform also provides you with an option to resume the lab. The Exit option is displayed only if your admin has enabled it.
Extend	Allows you to extend the time remaining in your lab. The Extend option is displayed only if your admin has enabled it.
Finish	If your admin has configured your lab for grading, then the system displays the Finish option instead of the End option. When you click Finish, the lab is ended and your work is sent for grading. Note that once you click Finish, you are not able to return to the lab.
Reset	If you reset a lab, all its virtual machines (VMs) are restored to their original state. You are not able to recover any work you have done. The Reset option is displayed only if your admin has enabled it.

Keyboard and Console Options

To view the console and keyboard options, click the gear icon. Select the checkbox for the options you want to use.

Console Options	Descriptions
Keyboard Layout	Select your keyboard layout to adjust any incorrect keys being sent to the console.
Intercept Paste	Intercept the paste shortcut keys and send the text copied from your browser (or elsewhere) to the console. This option could interfere with the console's own copy and paste commands.
Remap iOS Key to CTRL Key	If you are using iOS operating system, the VMware Lab Platform automatically remaps the iOS keyboard shortcuts equivalent to the Windows shortcut keys. You can remap the system keyboard shortcuts from the Settings menu.
Manual Shortcuts	If enabled, you can change the page in the manual with Ctrl key combinations even when the console has focus. See the gear menu for key combinations for your environment.
Fix non-ANSI US keyboard layouts	Remap the keys pressed on your keyboard to send US ANSI key code equivalents to the console. If you are using a non-US keyboard or have the keyboard set a non-US language in your operating system, enabling this option could help send the correct keys to the console.
Reverse Vertical Scroll Direction	Change the mouse scrolling direction sent to the console. This setting can help with mice or track pads that have the scroll direction reversed (sometimes called "natural").