Project NEE is VMware's next generation education environment that is powered by vCloud Director. It is a new VMware Labs project providing a richly featured, powerful online learning and lab environment delivered from the cloud to any device, anywhere, anytime. Project NEE will provide online labs, live chat, video, social media, and access to real virtual machines.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage lab in Project NEE. When you first start the console you are presented with a Windows 2003 Server. This instance is used for your VMware vSphere Client access to your ESXi hosts and vCenter server.
You will notice that there are two buttons on the side of the browser - Consoles and Manual. The Consoles tab provides you with access to the other virtual instances in the lab environment, and the Manual tab gives you the step-by-step instructions for the class.
At the bottom of the browser (it typically isn't visible and you need to scroll down) there are several buttons. This is where you send the CTRL-ALT-DEL command to login to your virtual machine with the credentials provided from VMware.
I did have several issues with the CTRL-ALT-DEL button; a Power Reset of the Windows 2003 Server was required so that I could login to the instance.
If you click on the Consoles tab, it slides out a panel that shows you the virtual machines available for the lab. In the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage course I have Desktop01, ESX01, and ESX02 presented. After selecting a new instance you receive the Loading Console.. screen.
In a couple of seconds the new instances shows on your screen, below you can see that ESX01 is selected for the lab.
When you select the Manual tab it presents you with the list of instructions for that step in the lab. In this module it is building a new virtual machine. After you have completed the set of instructions you click on the right arrow and proceed to the next lesson. Additionally, you can look at the table of contents and select which lesson you would like to take in the course.
The course follows the same outline that is delivered by the instructor led courses from VMware.
My experience with the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage course using Project NEE was positive, I think it is an exciting opportunity for people to learn the technology and try new products. I think VMware is headed in the right direction with this training and lab environment.
