LopesCloud is a web-based platform offering cloud-based virtual environments, accessible via a web browser without local installations through your online classroom. It's easy and convenient to interact with a virtual environment with LopesCloud, which is available in courses that require them for course work. LopesCloud will allow you to interact with whichever virtual environment your assignment requires, whether it is Windows, macOS, Linux, or another system!
Provisioning
It can take up to 24 hours for LopesCloud to set up your instances (also known as provisioning), and this is calculated from the start date of the assignment that requires the use of the instance. However, you can provision early by starting the instance before then if you want to get started on your assignments early.
For example, imagine you are in Week 1 and you want to start an instance in Week 7. You know that LopesCloud will automatically provision your instance one day prior to the Week 7 start, but you want to get started sooner than that. Simply start the instance in Week 7, wait up to 24 hours for it to provision, and get started.
Accessing LopesCloud
To access LopesCloud, you will first need to access your Halo Learn classroom. If this is the first time you are accessing your Halo Learn classroom, we recommend checking out the article Accessing Your Halo | Learn Classroom.
- Once you log into your Halo Learn classroom, navigate to the course that requires LopesCloud.
- On the left-hand side of the page, select Class Resources
- From here, look through the resources to find the LopesCloud resource.
- After you've found it, click the View Resource link to be redirected to LopesCloud.
- You will then be taken to the LopesCloud dashboard, where you can begin working with your virtual machines.
Getting Started
Place a checkmark next to the instance you would like to turn on. The Instance State should be stopped. Click on the purple START. You will see the Instance State update on the page as it starts initializing the request.
Please be patient, as it may be in a pending state for a few moments.
The VM is ready when the Instance State changes to running.
At this point, an IP Address will be assigned, and you will have a few selectable options under Action:
- Login as Root - This will automatically log you into the instance with an Admin account/pre-set password. Please note, if you change the password to the Admin account and forget it, you will not be able to recover the instance.
- Login as User - This allows you to log in with account credentials that you've created in your instance using the Login as Root interface.
- Factory Reset - You will use this option if you need to delete the instance for any reason. Please note, you cannot recover it after deletion. You might need to do this if you change the Admin password, forget it, and can no longer log into the instance.
If you have questions about using the instance, please contact your instructor. When you are done using it, please be sure to stop your instance by placing a checkmark next to the instance and clicking STOP.
Common Questions and Problems
Your instance's screen has a mouse and so does your screen. When you drag the instance's mouse off the screen, you'll see both.
The instance will not take up the entire screen when maximized, which leaves some white area on your screen. However, you can always zoom in on the instance. Make sure you click onto the white space (it will zoom into the instance if that is what is selected), then press and hold the Control key (Command on a Mac) and press the plus (+) button. If you have zoomed in too far and need to zoom out, press and hold the Control key (Command on a Mac) and press the minus (-) button.
If you change the IP address, you will not be able to access the instance. Changing the admin password will also make you lose access to the instance unless you remember it. Please don't change either of these settings to ensure that you do not experience difficulties accessing your instance or risk losing it unless directed to do so by your instructor or the assignment. If you do lose access to the instance, you will need to select the Reprovision instance option under Actions to remove it.
You should never be taken to a sign-in screen when attempting to access LopesCloud; it should automatically sign you in. However, if this occurs, you can still access LopesCloud in incognito or private mode in your browser. Please see General Browser Troubleshooting for instructions on how to do this in various browsers.
Not all classes are utilizing LopesCloud as some courses use other virtual machines such as VMWare. If your class doesn’t require the use of LopesCloud, you will not be able to use this tool. LopesCloud is available for the following courses:
- ITT-307
- ITT-340
- SYM-400
- SYM-408
- MIS-605
- MIS-610
- MIS-650
If you’re not in one of these courses, you won’t be able to use LopesCloud. If your course requires the use of a virtual machine instead, check out our article Virtualization Software!