Using the Hands-on Lab Overview

Students can use these remote computers during a training session for hands-on learning and practice. Because instructors can control Hands-on Lab sessions, they can maintain an optimized lab environment that is effective, familiar, and consistent.

To set up a Hands-on Lab session, the host schedules the lab and reserves the computers for the presenter. Then the host starts the Hands-on Lab within the training session. The presenter assigns computers to participants, connects the computers with a mouse click so that participants can use the virtual computer for their learning and practice activities.

Connect to a Reserved Computer

Participants in a Hands-on Lab session can connect to an unassigned computer or a preassigned computer depending on which option the presenter chose when starting the session.

Connect to Unassigned Computers

If the presenter has allowed participants to choose their own remote computer, they can connect to any reserved computer in the session.

1

On the Hands-on Lab panel, select the computer to which you want to connect.

2

Select Connect.

The Hands-on Lab Manager window is available from the Session Controls Panel on your desktop. You can also control the remote computer using the Sharing menu.

Connect to Preassigned Computers

If the presenter has manually assigned computers to Hands-on Lab participants, the Hands-on Lab Session connect message appears on the participant's desktop.

To connect to the remote computer, select Yes.

The Hands-on Lab Manager window is available from the Session Controls Panel on your desktop. You can also control the remote computer using the Sharing menu.

Use an Audio Conference in a Hands-on Lab Session

You can communicate with participants in a Hands-on Lab session using your computer or phone. All the audio conferencing options that the host sets up in the main session apply to the Hands-on Lab session.

  • Participants in a Hands-on Lab session cannot join a Hands-on Lab session audio conference until the Hands-on Lab session presenter joins the audio conference.

  • When a participant who has already joined the main audio conference session joins a Hands-on Lab session, they are switched from the main session audio conference to the Hands-on Lab session audio conference automatically. Participants cannot join an audio conference in the main session while connected to a Hands-on Lab session audio conference.

  • If audio conferencing is not available or has not been started for the main session before the Hands-on Lab session is started, audio conferencing for Hands-on Lab sessions is disabled also.

  • When a participant who is in the Hands-on Lab session audio conference leaves a Hands-on Lab session, they disconnect from the Hands-on Lab session audio conference automatically. The participant returns to the main session and can join the main audio conference by selecting Join Audio Conference on the Audio menu.

 

Start an Audio Conference During a Hands-on Lab Session

When you start a Hands-on Lab session, all the audio conference options that the host sets up in the main session are available during the Hands-on Lab session.

The Join Audio Conference message box automatically appears in the Session window for each participant in the Hands-on Lab session.

To use a VoIP audio conference, your computer must meet the system requirements for Integrated VoIP. For details, see the Audio release notes available from the User Guides page on your Webex Training website.

In the Audio Conference dialog box, decide whether to use the computer or phone to join the audio conference. If the Audio Conference dialog is not already appearing when the Hands-on Lab session starts, it is available from the Audio menu.

1

If joining by phone, make your selections in the dialog box, select Call Me, and then follow the instructions on the phone.

A phone icon appears next to your name in the Participants panel to indicate that you have joined the audio conference using your phone.

2

If joining by computer, select Join.

A headset symbol appears to the left of your name in the participant list on the Hands-on Lab Sessions Manager panel.

The headset or phone icon flashes to indicate which participant is speaking during the Hands-on Lab session.

Leave and End an Audio Conference in a Hands-on Lab Session

1

Select the Audio button on the Participants panel.

2

In the Audio Conference dialog box, select Leave Webex Audio.

As host, you can select Lab > End Hands-on Lab to end both the Hands-on Lab and audio sessions.

Use the Hands-on Lab Manager

Once the presenter starts the Hands-on Lab session and participants have connected to the computers, the Hands-on Lab Session Manager is available on your desktop. On the Session Controls Panel, select Hands-on Lab Panel.

The Hands-on Lab Manager lists the participants in the lab to which they are connected. In the Hands-on Lab Manager, participants can transfer files to and from their computers and ask for help. When you are in a Hands-on Lab session, you can use the Hands-on Lab computer directly from your own computer as if you are sitting at the Hands-on Lab computer.

A green computer icon next to your name indicates that you are connected to the Hands-on Lab computer.

Transfer Files in a Hands-on Lab Session

During a Hands-on Lab session, you can transfer files to and from the Hands-on Lab computer. You can transfer files that reside at any location on either the Hands-on Lab computer or on your local computer.

Transferring files works the same way as it does within the training session.

This feature is not supported on the Mac.

1

From either the Hands-on Lab Manager window or the Sharing menu, select Transfer File.

2

In the pane on the left (Local Computer), expand a directory to display the folder in which you want to transfer a file.

3

In the pane on the right (Remote Computer), expand the other directory until the file that you want to transfer appears.

4

Drag the file to the folder in which you want to transfer it in the pane on the left.

Pass Control of the Hands-on Lab Computer

1

On the Hands-on Lab Manager window, select the name of the participant to whom you want to transfer control. The participant must be connected to the computer at the time you transfer control.

A green icon next to a participant's name indicates that the participant is connected to the computer. A gray icon indicates that the participant is disconnected from the computer.

2

In the Hands-on Lab Manager window, select the Pass Control icon.

Leave a Hands-on Lab Session and Disconnect from Computer

On the Sharing menu, select Leave Hands-on Lab. To reconnect to the Hands-on Lab computer at any time during the session, see Connect to a Reserved Computer.

To disconnect from your remote computer, on the Session Controls Panel, select Return to Main Window > Disconnect from Computer.