Looking to run hands-on training without fighting with on-prem servers, endless IT tickets, or the “fun” of setting up labs from scratch? You’re in the right place. This guide walks you through building a virtual training environment using Cloudshare—step by step, with all the practical details and none of the marketing fluff.
This is for folks who need to train users, students, or customers, and just want the thing to work—no deep cloud expertise required. If you want to spin up environments, drop your courseware in, and get students running labs without headaches, read on.
Step 1: Get Your Cloudshare Account Set Up
First things first, you need an account. Cloudshare isn’t free, but they do offer trials if you want to kick the tires. Here’s what matters:
- Go to Cloudshare and sign up. Use a work email—they don’t love generic Gmail addresses.
- Pick the right plan for your needs. If you just want to test, start small. You can always upgrade.
- Verify your email and set your password.
- Log in and poke around. The UI isn’t rocket science, but it’s different from AWS or Azure if that’s what you’re used to.
Pro tip: If you’re with a company, see if someone already has an account you can join. It’ll save you setup time and maybe a few bucks.
Step 2: Plan Your Training Lab Environment
Before you start clicking around, get clear on what you actually need. Overbuilding is easy and expensive. Ask yourself:
- What do students need to do? Windows? Linux? Multi-VM? Database? Just a browser?
- How many users? Cloudshare charges by usage, so don’t guess wildly high.
- Any special software or files? Licensing can get tricky. Plan ahead.
What works:
Cloudshare is great for single or multi-VM environments, persistent or disposable labs, and simple networking. It’s not the best choice for super-complex, production-like setups. Keep it simple.
Step 3: Build Your Blueprint
The “Blueprint” is Cloudshare’s term for your base lab template. This is what you’ll clone for each user.
3.1. Start a New Blueprint
- Click Blueprints in the sidebar, then Create New Blueprint.
- Choose your base VM(s): Windows, Linux, or both. You can add more later.
- Name your blueprint something obvious—future you will thank you.
3.2. Configure Machines
- Pick machine sizes. Don’t go overboard with RAM/CPU unless you know you need it; you can adjust later.
- Install your software. This is the time to add everything your training needs: IDEs, databases, course files, etc.
- Set up user accounts and passwords. Make it easy for students. Document the credentials somewhere obvious.
Pro tip:
Make a “build checklist” and save a snapshot before you install anything weird. If you break something, you can roll back.
3.3. Network Settings (Keep It Simple)
- Default networking is fine for most training. Only fiddle with firewall rules if you have to.
- Need internet access? Make sure outbound connections are allowed.
- Connecting VMs together? Use the internal network option.
3.4. Save and Publish
- Take a final snapshot—call it “golden image” or similar.
- Click Publish. This locks in your blueprint so you can use it for classes.
Step 4: Create a Training Class from Your Blueprint
Now you’ll use that blueprint to actually spin up labs for your students.
- Go to Classes (sometimes called “environments”).
- Click Create Class (or similar—Cloudshare’s UI changes sometimes).
- Pick your blueprint and give your class a name.
4.1. Set Up Student Access
- Add students’ emails. You can bulk import a CSV.
- Decide if you want to send invites now, or later.
- Set access duration—how long students can use their labs. Don’t forget to account for time zones and stragglers.
Heads up:
Cloudshare sends automatic emails. Sometimes these land in spam. Warn your students.
4.2. Configure Class Settings
- Lab duration: How many hours per session?
- Auto-suspend: Save money by pausing idle labs.
- Snapshots: Let students reset their own labs if they break something.
Stick with defaults unless you have a reason to change.
Step 5: Test the Student Experience
Before you unleash this on actual humans, run through the process yourself:
- Add yourself as a student (use a personal email if you can).
- Accept the invite, open the lab, and run through the training steps.
- Check: Does everything work? Are files where they should be? Any confusing bits?
What to ignore:
Don’t obsess over making it look perfect. Focus on function. Clunky is better than broken.
Step 6: Share Access and Go Live
Once you’re happy with your setup:
- Invite your students (if you haven’t already).
- Send a separate email with tips: how to log in, what to expect, where to get help.
- Be ready for “I can’t log in” or “I broke my lab” questions. It happens.
Step 7: Monitor and Support During the Training
While the class is running, keep an eye on things:
- Use Cloudshare’s dashboard to see who’s logged in and who’s stuck.
- You can reset labs, extend time, or help troubleshoot if needed.
- If Cloudshare has an outage (rare, but it happens), communicate honestly. Don’t try to cover it up.
Pro tip:
Have a backup plan—like PDFs or screencasts—in case someone’s lab just won’t work. It saves your sanity.
Step 8: Wrap Up and Clean House
- End the class in Cloudshare when you’re done. This stops billing and access.
- Download any reports you need (who finished, usage logs, etc.).
- Archive your blueprint if you’ll reuse it, or tweak for next time.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Skip
What Works Well
- Fast lab creation and teardown.
- Easy sharing—just email students and they’re in.
- Snapshots and resets keep things from getting too messy.
What’s So-So
- UI can be a bit clunky, and not everything is where you’d expect.
- Billing isn’t always crystal clear; keep an eye on usage.
- Advanced networking or integrations aren’t Cloudshare’s strong suit.
What to Ignore
- Don’t get lost in endless customization. Start simple, then improve.
- Don’t stress about “branding” your labs unless your boss insists.
Keep It Simple—Iterate As You Go
Setting up a virtual training lab in Cloudshare isn’t magic, but it’s way less painful than most alternatives. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Get your first class running, gather feedback, and tweak from there. The best virtual labs are the ones that actually get used. Good luck!