Logo Help Center
    Sign in
      1. CloudShare Support
      2. Virtual Environments
      • Virtual Environments

        Easily create, access and clone customized virtual IT labs

      • Back to Help Center
      Virtual Environments
      • Create an Environment

        An environment is a single entity that combines computing resources, networking, operating systems, software, and memory state into a manageable and easy-to-use unit. There are three ways to creat...

      • Create an Environment

        You can create a new environment based on any existing blueprint or template in your account. CloudShare provides a library of pre-configured single and multi-machine environments that come with s...

      • Create an Environment

        When you create a custom environment, you start with the basic Create Environment workflow, but manually select the resources that will be used in that environment. These can include: VMs you imp...

      • Create an Environment

      • Manage an Environment

        You can easily manage any CloudShare Environment from its Environment Details page. The page provides a comprehensive, real-time view of a selected Environment, as well as a single location for pe...

      • Manage an Environment

        The following Environment actions can be performed simultaneously for more than one selected Environment: Resume Environments Suspend Environments Extend Environments Delete Environments You can...

      • Access Your Environment

        CloudShare offers a range of very useful ways for you, your fellow CloudShare users, and external users to access CloudShare environments and VMs.  Tip To configure and troubleshoot your connecti...

      • Access Your Environment

        Whether you need to transfer files to your VMs, install software, develop, test something or make any sort of change to your VMs and your environment, you'll need to know how to connect to your en...

      • Access Your Environment

        One way you can connect to a CloudShare VM is via an RDP client using the VM's external address, which is a persistent external DNS name assigned to each VM in a CloudShare environment.    (Clickin...

      • Access Your Environment

        RDP file download is an option that gives you fast and easy access to a CloudShare VM. CloudShare provides an external RDP file per VM, which you can download directly from the Environment Details...

      • Access Your Environment

        You can connect to a CloudShare Linux-based VM by installing xRDP, which enables non-Windows operating systems to provide users with a standard Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) compatible e...

      • Access Your Environment

           Overview 1. Accessing my machine via the Web 2. Share my machine via Web access 3. Enabling Web Access  Overview  Web Access provides on-demand internet access to a web application running on yo...

      • View Your Environment

        CloudShare's viewer provides a clean and intuitive interface in which to view and share your environments.  Tip For details on how to access the environment viewer in your browser, click here . ...

      • View Your Environment

        You can use any of multiple supported languages for the Environment Viewer. To change the viewing language, click the  icon at the top right of the viewer. From the dropdown list that appears, sel...

      • View Your Environment

        Copying and pasting capabilities between your local computer and remote VMs vary depending on the access protocol you are using to connect to the VM. Copy and paste when connecting to a VM over R...

      • View Your Environment

        In a key override, specific keystrokes send custom-defined key combinations to the VMs.  You configure the key overrides as part of environment customization. It affects all VM tabs accessed in th...

      • View Your Environment

        When you're connecting to a Windows VM via RDP, the environment viewer lets you play and record sound on the remote VM.  In order for sound on a Windows VM to play through the viewer, you first ne...

      • View Your Environment

        When you connect to a VM through the Environment Viewer, you can interact with the VM using your local keyboard as if it were physically attached to the VM. Most international keyboard layouts are...

      • Customize the Environment Viewer

        CloudShare’s Environment Viewer is at the heart of the user experience. It is a self-contained portal for accessing VMs, resources, external resources, and any other content you want to provide to...

      • Customize the Environment Viewer

        Click View in the environment's details page to see a sample of how the environment currently appears to a user.

      • Customize the Environment Viewer

        On the right of the environment's details page, click Edit Environment and then Customize Viewer. The Customize Environment Viewer page appears. To change the basic settings, select Custom Set...

      • Customize the Environment Viewer

        Changing the Structural Display Setting Default Sound Configuration Changing the Structural Display Use the on/off sliders to control which tabs are displayed in the viewer.   Use the Default...

      • Customize the Environment Viewer

        Switching tab order Hiding tabs Renaming tabs Customizing VM Tabs Adding Instructions and Resources Switching tab order Changing the Default Tab The Default tab is the first tab the user ...

      • Customize the Environment Viewer

        Important This task requires account manager permissions.  The resources repository enables you to upload resources that you want to make accessible to environment users in the environment viewe...

      • Import VMs

        One of the most important capabilities of CloudShare is enabling you to import your existing virtual machines (VMs) exactly as they are, so that you can continue working with them to develop new s...

      • Import VMs

        Before you begin the VM import process, you'll need to perform the following preparation activities. Ensure the VM is CloudShare Compatible If your VM meets these specifications, it can be impor...

      • Import VMs

        The VM Import wizard leads you step by step through automatically importing your own virtual machines (VMs) to CloudShare. Before starting the wizard, check your VM format compatibility, install c...

      • Import VMs

        VM Upload The VM Upload workflow offers you the ability to upload your own customized virtual machines to your new or existing CloudShare environment.  The main purpose of VM Upload with combinatio...

      • Import VMs

        Reviewing these tips before you start your VM import can help to achieve a smoother import process: VMDK Configuration Issues. Avoid the following OVF mismatches: Fewer VMDK files uploaded - En...

      • Import VMs

        Whenever you import a VM, CloudShare makes a snapshot of it available via the Imported VMs tab whenever you are creating a new custom environment.  When needed, you can delete this original VM imp...

      • Work with Blueprints and Snapshots

        CloudShare environments are built and managed via Blueprints and Snapshots. A Blueprint is a container for an environment’s Snapshots, while a Snapshot is a complete replica of an Environment in i...

      • Work with Blueprints and Snapshots

        Snapshots Snapshots back up the entire environment as it is in its current state.  So that means a complete replica of all of your virtual machines, the RAM, CPU and disk allocations, the network c...

      • Work with Blueprints and Snapshots

          Overview What are Snapshots? How to take a Snapshot Revert to a Snapshot Overview Taking a Snapshot is a core feature of CloudShare and one of the most vital maintenance tasks you can perform wi...

      • Work with Blueprints and Snapshots

        On the environment's details page (Go to the Environments list and then click the environment's name to open the details page), click Take Snapshot.  The Take Snapshot form appears on the page....

      • Work with Blueprints and Snapshots

        Environments created from a blueprint are based on the default snapshot in the blueprint. It's easy to change which snapshot is the default.   Important For users of multiple regions: If you wish...

      • Work with Blueprints and Snapshots

        You can copy a snapshot from US East to another region. You can also remove snapshots from regions.   To copy a snapshot to a region: Go to the Snapshot Regions page.  This page displays snapsh...

      • Use External Cloud Resources

        Note CloudShare supports the three leading commodity clouds: Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure and the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Using our external cloud resources capability, you can conduct virt...

      • Use External Cloud Resources

        CloudShare supports using custom Terraform scripts to enable tight functional integration with external clouds. A Terraform script defines each end-user environment upon spinup, providing a way to...

      • Use External Cloud Resources

        You can create a new Terraform script for the account from within CloudShare by manually entering or pasting the script code. From the External Resources menu, click Create New Script. The Creat...

      • Use External Cloud Resources

        When you work with an External Cloud, you can view a detailed summary of the resources being used by that cloud in CloudShare. A External Resources Summary page can be accessed from the following ...

      • Use External Cloud Resources

        When working with an External Cloud, you can make custom data available to the cloud whenever needed. On the External Resources Summary page, go to the External Resource Custom Data panel and clic...

      • Collaborate on Environments

        The Share feature lets you share your own environments and end user environments with other project members for collaboration. You can let other project members modify environments, take snapshots,...

      • Collaborate on Environments

      • Export Your Environment

        CloudShare offers you the ability to export and download your individual VMs and entire environments directly to your Cloud Folder.  The resulting OVF files can then be imported to your local Virtu...

      • Modify VM Users and Passwords

        When you create a CloudShare environment, its VMs will always start out with unique passwords, automatically randomized.  Typically, your do not need to change the initial VM password. However, if...

      • Modify VM Users and Passwords

        CloudShare makes sure every environment starts out with unique passwords on all virtual machines.  When an environment is created, either from a permalink, an invitation or from new machine templat...

      • Modify VM Users and Passwords

        Currently there are two options available for assigning more secure passwords to your machines. The first section of this post covers the automatic assignment of secure passwords which can only be ...

      • Modify VM Users and Passwords

        Overview 1. Adding a domain user to the domain controller 2. Adding a domain user to CloudShare Overview Configuring domain users is optional however necessary if you intend to want to set up diffe...

      • Edit Networks

        CloudShare enables you to configure networks to connect VMs in your environment to each other and to the public internet via CloudShare's remote access gateway. The remote access gateway provides ...

      • Edit Networks

        Important This task requires project member or project manager access. To add or edit a network: In the Environment Details page, select Edit Environment > Edit Networks. This option is enabl...

      • Edit Networks

        To configure a VM's connection to a CloudShare network: In the environment's details page, select Edit Environment > Edit Networks. The Edit Networks page appears.  On the topology diagram, se...

      • Edit Networks

        CloudShare provides the following modes for inbound access on any network adapter on any VM: Secure access Public IP No Access Note To change the inbound access mode of a network adapter, see C...

      • Edit Networks

        When you allow inbound access to a machine on a network by public IP, inbound traffic is, by default, allowed on all ports that are open in the CloudShare firewall (see table below).  The best pra...

      • Edit Networks

        Promiscuous mode is disabled by default. If you need to configure a net adapter to work in promiscuous mode, you need to enable it in the Edit Networks page in addition to making sure that the app...

      • Transfer Files to Your VM

        CloudShare's Cloud Folders enables you to quickly move your local files (code, content, configurations and software) into your CloudShare VMs. Your Cloud Folder is available to all VMs in your env...

      • Transfer Files to Your VM

        Important Cloud Folders are supported on the US East Region only. Overview Why use Cloud Folders? 1. Getting Started 2. Show your Cloud Folder on your CloudShare machines 3. Start working 4. Adde...

      • Transfer Files to Your VM

        Overview Project Folders make it easy to share files between Project Members and with all of the CloudShare VMs in your Project. You might already be familiar with your personal Cloud Folder, the c...

      • Adjust VM Resources and Hardware

        After creating an environment, CloudShare enables you to change its technical characteristics, including: hardware settings like available RAM, number of CPUs and disk size; creating nested level...

      • Adjust VM Resources and Hardware

        One of the most simple yet effective features we have is the ability to adjust the resources of your virtual machines on the fly.  RAM, CPUs and disk space can all be adjusted to suit the requireme...

      • Adjust VM Resources and Hardware

        Increasing the disk size of your virtual machine CloudShare supports editing your virtual machine hardware and increasing the disk, RAM or number of CPUs.  To access this functionality, bring up y...

      • Adjust VM Resources and Hardware

        CloudShare enables you to run virtualization software on a CloudShare VM. All you have to do is enable virtualization on the VM and then you can run the virtualization software of your choice. Fr...

      • Adjust VM Resources and Hardware

        Whenever a CloudShare environment is generated from a snapshot - whether for a class, a demo or a single environment creation, the new environment is an exact replica of the environment the snapsh...

      • Test Your Connectivity to VMs

        Are you having trouble connecting to your environment? Does it seem to be running a bit slowly? Having trouble connecting to one of your VMs? Try running our connectivity test from inside the envi...

      • Test Your Connectivity to VMs

        The connectivity test tests your connection to CloudShare's remote access gateway at the CloudShare region where your environment is hosted. It runs several tests: WebSocket tests. Your browser ...

      • Test Your Connectivity to VMs

        In the Environment Viewer, expand the Environment Actions menu. Click this connectivity test button: . The Connectivity Test appears in an overlay window. The WebSocket tests run and then their...

      • Test Your Connectivity to VMs

        The WebSocket Tests The Speed Test The WebSocket Tests When the tests are done, the results are displayed clearly, followed by a helpful explanation and recommended actions. Follow our guidanc...

      • Test Your Connectivity to VMs

        Using the Speed Test slider, you can optionally reduce the resolution to improve the performance. You can click the Apply button to apply the recommended setting. Alternatively, you can move the s...

      • Test Your Connectivity to VMs

        If you notice a drop in your connection speed or general performance, you can use the Remote Access Test page to ensure that your system currently meets minimum access requirements for using CloudS...

      • Work in Global Regions

        CloudShare provides the ability to launch environments, create demos and hold classes from data centers in multiple regions around the world (US East, Asia Pacific and Europe). If you are currentl...

      Quick Links

      • Create an Environment
      • Customize the Environment Viewer
      • Share Your Cloud Folder With Students

      Support

      • Tips and Troubleshooting
      • Community
      • My activities
      • Submit a request

      Copyright © CloudShare, Inc. All rights reserved.