Create your classroom lab with Azure Lab Services!
The story of a real experience for setting up a virtual laboratory for SQL Server!
I recently had the opportunity to prepare a workshop for technicians who intend to acquire basic skills on T-SQL language, on SQL Server tools for Import/Export data and SQL Profiler. In addition to the theoretical part, I had to give the attendees an environment on which experiment the theory through practical exercises to “getting hands dirty” immediately ;)
I wondered which was the best choice from the following options:
- Each participant must have a notebook with SQL Server 2019 and SQL Server Management Studio
- Provide the access to an Azure VM with SQL Server 2019 and SQL Server Management Studio
- Provide the access to an instance of Azure SQL Database in the cloud
- Other?
The first option is the most “obvious” but requires a local installation of SQL Server 2019, SQL Server Management Studio and the download of the sample database for the exercises. Each attendee would have to prepare their own environment, in some cases, without having the sufficient skills to complete all the operations (the level of the workshop is 200). I excluded the first option.
The second option is viable but it requires an Azure VM capable of providing Terminal Server Services. It also requires configuring access to the VM, sending passwords, creating a database for each participant, etc. Nothing impossible but the configuration part requires a not negligible effort and if I have to repeat the workshop the configuration should be done every time. I excluded the second option.
The third option works fine but requires SQL Server Management Studio installed locally and the creation of a DB in Azure SQL Database for each attendee. The credentials must be sent for each participant and the configuration must be repeated every time for each new workshop, even of the same type.
I had the idea there was an easier way to set up a virtual class-room but I didn’t know how… and after some searches I found the answer: Azure Lab Services!
Azure Lab Services allows you to create a Lab of preconfigured virtual machines that will be distributed to attendees from the Azure platform through the Lab Service. The image of the VMs is based on the model prepared for the laboratory. The model will contain SQL Server, SSMS, the sample databases and the exercises to be performed.
In the tutorial named “Set up a classroom lab” you set up a classroom Lab with virtual machines that are used by students in the classroom. At the end of the tutorial you will be able to do the following actions:
- Create a classroom lab
- Add users to the lab
- Set schedule for the lab
- Send invitation email to students
During the creation of the Lab for SQL Server 2019, I selected the image “SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition on Windows Server 2019” as shown in the following picture. This image contains the Standard Edition of SQL Server 2019 and it is recommended when you do not have time or sufficient experience to manually install SQL Server.
On the contrary, if you have time and experience on how to install a new instance of SQL Server, you can select the image containing the Windows operating system only. When the virtual machine will be up and running you will be able to install a new standalone instance of SQL Server 2019. You can download SQL Server Developer Edition from here.
In both cases, it is recommended to use the Medium size as the minimum for the VMs in the SQL Server laboratory.
After creating and configuring the virtual machine Lab, you can plan when the Lab will be available to students. The attendees will be able to access to the VMs by following the tutorial “Access a classroom Lab in Azure Lab Services”.
Azure Lab Services is also integrated into Microsoft Teams. You can create a Teams group, create one or more virtual laboratories and providing the machines to all users of the Team! For more information about the integration of Azure Lab Services into Microsoft Teams, point your browser here.
Are you wondering how much the service costs? Less than you think and less than what it would cost to set up an on-premises physical laboratory! For cost details, point your browser here.
Enjoy Azure Lab Services!
