LabEx VM Desktop Interface

You can use the apt install command to install software. The desktop environment typically uses Ubuntu 22.04, so theoretically, you can install any software compatible with Ubuntu. For example:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install package-name

Remember to use sudo for installation commands, as they require administrative privileges.

Environment lag can be due to several factors:

1. Local network: Ensure your local network bandwidth meets the minimum requirement of 10 Mbps.
2. Free user allocation: Free users may be assigned to our free cluster, which can experience resource constraints during peak usage.
3. Resource-intensive applications: Running applications like browsers can cause lag. Check your system’s memory and CPU usage.

If you experience lag, try closing unnecessary applications and browser tabs to free up resources. If the issue persists, post a feedback message in our community forum.

By default, most labs don’t require a browser. If you need one:

1. Open a terminal and type firefox to launch the browser.
2. Note that browsers consume significant CPU resources. If the lab doesn’t explicitly require a browser, the system may automatically terminate browser-related processes.

Use the browser judiciously to avoid impacting system performance.

We recommend using the right mouse button for copy and paste operations. Alternatively:

1. Access the View menu to see available shortcuts.

2. Default shortcuts may vary depending on your local operating system, so check the “Edit” menu for the correct shortcuts.

   For example, common shortcuts include:

   • Copy: Ctrl+Shift+C (Mac)
   • Paste: Ctrl+Shift+V (Mac)

The Desktop Interface does not support file uploads and downloads. If you need to upload or download files, you can switch to the WebIDE interface.

Change the interface by clicking the “WebIDE” tab at the top of the page.

1. Upload Files:

   • Drag and drop files into the explorer
   • Use the upload/download after right-clicking in the explorer

2. Download Files:

   • Right-click the file in explorer
   • Select “Download”

The default path for downloads and uploads is the /home/labex/project directory.

Remember that all files are temporary and will be lost when your session ends.

Currently, LabEx VM does not provide an environment saving feature. There are several reasons for this:

1. Frequent updates: Our labs are regularly updated, which could lead to incompatibilities between saved environments and current lab content.
2. Maintenance costs: Storing different versions of environments for each user would significantly increase our maintenance costs and complexity.
3. Lab structure: Most of our labs consist of only 3-5 steps, making it convenient to complete them without needing to save the environment.

We’ve designed our labs to be concise and easily completable within a single session. If you need to take a break, we recommend noting down your progress and recreating your work environment when you return. This approach ensures you’re always working with the most up-to-date lab content and tools.