• Course Manager by Skytap overview
  • Instructor-led training overview
  • On-demand labs overview
• Preparing a template
  • Installing CMHelper on a VM
  • Installing CMSysHelper on a VM
• Creating a course
  • Adding learning content to a course
    • Editing a Manual
  • Adding lab actions to a course
  • Adding script packages to a course
  • Editing a course
  • Deleting a course
• Creating and managing instructor-led training events
  • Creating and scheduling an event
    • Adding learning content to an event
    • Customizing email messages for an event
    • Editing an event
    • Deleting an event
  • Preparing for the event
  • Delivering the event
  • Viewing the event activity summary
  • Using event scheduling
    • Scheduling a recurrent event
    • Scheduling a non-recurrent event
    • Viewing event schedules
    • Using delayed provisioning
• Creating and managing on-demand labs
  • Using consumption control measures
  • Creating a lab
    • Adding learning content to a lab
    • Deleting a lab
  • Managing labs
  • Using the request portal – a guide for Lab and Event Manager users
• Using the Learning Console – a guide for lab end users
  • Using the Manual in the Learning Console
  • Using Resources in the Learning Console
  • Using File Drop in the Learning Console
• Using the Learning Console in preview mode
• Viewing Learning Console activity
• Managing your user account
• Administering Course Manager by Skytap
  • Managing users
  • Managing account settings
    • Editing an email body
  • Using tags with Course Manager
  • Using commands, scripts, and the Virtual Browser
  • Using custom data attributes
  • Course Manager Reporting
  • Using Course Manager fields for Skytap reporting
• Course Manager FAQ

Using commands, scripts, and the Virtual Browser

You can use Manual shortcuts and lab actions to allow lab end users to execute a command or script in their Skytap environment or access a resource through the Course Manager Virtual Browser.

Using command shortcuts and actions

Use a command Manual shortcut or lab action to allow lab end users to execute an interactive or system command in their VM by clicking a shortcut or action in the Learning Console. Commands can be used to open a file in a VM, run an application in a VM, or check the state of a VM to confirm that a user has performed specific tasks. You can block lab end users from moving forward in a Manual until they execute or successfully execute a command.

• For lab end users to be able to execute interactive commands in a VM in their Skytap environment:

  • The CMHelper app must be installed on the VM.

    For more information about installing CMHelper, see Installing CMHelper on a VM.

  • The VM must be connected to an automatic network with Internet access.

    For more information about creating Skytap templates for lab environments, see Preparing a template.

• For lab end users to be able to execute system commands in a VM in their Skytap environment:

  • The CMSysHelper app must be installed on the VM.

    For more information about installing CMSysHelper, see Installing CMSysHelper on a VM.

  • The VM must be connected to an automatic network with Internet access.

    For more information about creating Skytap templates for lab environments, see Preparing a template.

• You can prevent lab end users from clicking command shortcuts and actions if the required CMHelper or CMSysHelper isn’t available by enabling CMHelper and CMSysHelper presence tracking. This setting can be enabled by default using your account settings or for an individual course, event, or on-demand lab using Course Manager tags. CMHelper and CMSysHelper presence tracking should be enabled only if:
  • CMHelper version 1.1.9 or newer is in use for interactive commands.
  • CMSysHelper version 1.0.2 or newer is in use for system commands.
• CMHelper version 1.1.9 or newer and CMSysHelper version 1.0.2 or newer keep VMs active while commands are running.
• When a lab end user interacts with command shortcuts and actions, Course Manager displays this activity on the lab end user’s Activity page and the event Activity Summary page.

Choosing between interactive and system commands

Interactive commands

• Can be executed only by lab end users who are signed in to the target VM.
• Can interact with a user session in the target VM.
• Can be executed only when the CMHelper app is running on the target VM. CMHelper runs as a process in a user session, with the privileges of that user.
• Can’t be executed in VMs that don’t have a graphical user interface.

System commands

• Can be executed by lab end users regardless of whether they are signed in to the target VM.
• Can’t interact with a user session in the target VM.
• Can be executed only when the CMSysHelper app is running on the target VM. CMSysHelper runs as an OS service, with privileges at the system level.
• Can be executed in VMs regardless of whether they have a graphical user interface.

Using script shortcuts and actions

Use a script Manual shortcut or lab action to allow lab end users to execute a script in the Course Manager Script Host by clicking a shortcut or action in the Learning Console. Script packages that have been added to a course are placed in the Script Host VM in an end user’s Skytap environment when the environment is first provisioned. Lab end users can’t sign in to the Script Host VM, so they can’t edit or view the script packages. Scripts can be used to provision or tear down remote resources in another cloud, make changes to the end user’s Skytap environment, or check the state of a VM to confirm that a user has performed specific tasks. You can block lab end users from moving forward in a Manual until they execute or successfully execute a script.

• You can add a script Manual shortcut or lab action only if:
  • Scripts are enabled in your account settings.
  • At least one script package has been added to the course.
• For a lab end user to be able to use script shortcuts and actions:

  • The user’s Skytap environment must contain the Script Host VM.

    You can find the Script Host VM template in the Skytap public template library.

  • The Script Host VM must be connected to an automatic network with Internet access.

    For more information about creating Skytap templates for lab environments, see Preparing a template.

  • The name of the Script Host VM in the user’s Skytap environment must contain the Script Host VM name specified in your Course Manager account settings.

• You can prevent lab end users from clicking script shortcuts and actions if the Script Host isn’t available by enabling CMHelper and CMSysHelper presence tracking. This setting can be enabled by default using your account settings or for an individual course, event, or on-demand lab using Course Manager tags. CMHelper and CMSysHelper presence tracking should be enabled only if:
  • CMHelper version 1.1.9 or newer is in use for interactive commands.
  • CMSysHelper version 1.0.2 or newer is in use for system commands.
• When a lab end user interacts with script shortcuts and actions, Course Manager displays this activity on the lab end user’s Activity page and the event Activity Summary page.

Using Virtual Browser shortcuts and actions

Use a Virtual Browser Manual shortcut or lab action to allow lab end users to access a resource through a browser or SSH connection in the Course Manager Virtual Browser by clicking a shortcut or action in the Learning Console. Each Virtual Browser shortcut or action provides access to a specific destination through a URL, hostname, or IP address.

• You can add a Virtual Browser Manual shortcut or lab action only if the Virtual Browser is enabled in your account settings.
• For a lab end user to be able to use Virtual Browser shortcuts and actions:

  • The user’s Skytap environment must contain the Virtual Browser VM.

    You can find the Virtual Browser VM template in the Skytap public template library.

  • The Virtual Browser VM must be connected to an automatic network with Internet access.

    For more information about creating Skytap templates for lab environments, see Preparing a template.

  • The name of the Virtual Browser VM in the user’s Skytap environment must contain the Virtual Browser VM name specified in your Course Manager account settings.

• You can prevent lab end users from clicking Virtual Browser shortcuts and actions if the Virtual Browser isn’t available by enabling CMHelper and CMSysHelper presence tracking. This setting can be enabled by default using your account settings or for an individual course, event, or on-demand lab using Course Manager tags. CMHelper and CMSysHelper presence tracking should be enabled only if:
  • CMHelper version 1.1.9 or newer is in use for interactive commands.
  • CMSysHelper version 1.0.2 or newer is in use for system commands.
• When a lab end user interacts with Virtual Browser shortcuts and actions, Course Manager displays this activity on the lab end user’s Activity page and the event Activity Summary page.