This article covers Pluralsight-created labs. You can also read the article on Google Cloud self-paced labs to learn more about them.
Who can use this?
| Stnd | Prem | Strt | Pro | Ent | |
| Learners: | + | + | + | ||
| Managers: | |||||
| Admins: | |||||
| + Available as a plan add-on | |||||
What are labs?
Pluralsight-created labs enable hands-on practice in a secure, temporary, and Pluralsight-provided environment. Each lab includes challenges with step-by-step instructions and access to pre-configured, live environments.
Pluralsight-created labs cover a variety of topics, including:
- Cloud labs
- Data labs
- Developer labs
- IT ops labs
- Security labs
Labs are:
- Cost effective. Pluralsight provides the credentials and environments.
- Instructive. Labs are composed of written guided instruction helping you through various skills.
- Self-guided. We do not check your work in a lab.
- Timed. Each lab environment is a timed instance for using a providers' credentials.
- Short. Time to complete a lab varies, but typically takes between 30–90 minutes with options to extend that time.
Check the quick start guide below, or for more details, check the How do labs work? section below.
Quick start guide
- Select a Pluralsight-built cloud lab and click Start lab.
- Click the Open [cloud provider console/portal] button found on the Lab info panel on the right.
- Wait for the lab environment and login credentials to load (may take several minutes). The lab environment will open in a new tab.
- Copy the provided credentials found in the Lab info panel and paste them in the cloud provider page.
- Follow the challenge and task instructions found within the lab.
- Click Next in the Pluralsight lab after completing each challenge until you finish the lab.
- Select a Pluralsight-built lab and click Start lab.
- Click the Open environment button found on the Lab info panel on the right.
- Wait for the lab environment to load (may take several minutes). The lab environment will open in a new tab.
- Follow the challenge and task instructions found within the lab.
- Click Next in the Pluralsight lab after completing each challenge until you finish the lab.
How can labs fit into my learning?
Use labs to practice and apply what you've learned from the courses you've taken within Skills.
For example, say you're learning about Amazon Web Services (AWS). You've watched multiple courses, taken a Skill IQ, and are ready to apply what you've learned. Labs serve to fill that hands-on need to practice and apply in a real-world environment.
Labs are a great way to connect prior skills and knowledge to newly learned skills and knowledge. You can find labs paired with associated content in select certification preparation paths.
Where can I find labs?
You can find labs in the following areas within Skills:
- From the labs library page (opens in new tab)
- On the Browse flyout menu under Ways to Learn
- Using the search feature
- From within select path pages (opens in new tab) that contain labs
- If you've started a lab, on your Home page (opens in new tab) under Continue learning
How do labs work?
Important: Prior to starting a lab, we recommend setting your browser to incognito/private mode. This helps prevent issues related to autofilling credentials and browser extensions.
Let's take a look at the main components and features making up a lab. Please use the screenshot below as reference.
A. Lab timer and progress bar
The timer found in the top left corner of every lab indicates how long your temporary environment is valid. Labs cannot be paused. The timer will count down even if you leave the lab. If the timer expires, your environment will reset and you'll need to start over from the beginning.
Don't worry though. If you run out of time, we'll prompt you to extend the time when you have five minutes remaining, allowing you to add 10 minutes. This can be done up to three times, totaling 30 extra minutes.
The progress bar tracks your path through the lab and indicates how much further you have to completion.
Important: Once you've completed a lab or the timer runs out, nothing you've done is saved. We wipe all work done in the lab and cycle each lab instance. There's nothing you need to do on your end.
B. Challenges and tasks
Each lab is made up of a series of challenges. In the example above, the lab is "Create and Manage users with AWS IAM" and the first challenge is "Create Groups Based on Required Access".
Tasks are the numbered instructions under each challenge. These help you through the challenges and serve to guide your navigation through the lab environment.
C. Navigation and accessibility controls
- You can use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate through the lab’s challenges.
- You can expand or collapse the right-hand lab panel to maximize your screen area.
- You can toggle between Light and Dark mode to customize your display.
D. Lab info panel
Every lab takes you to a live environment.
- For cloud labs, click the Open [cloud provider console/portal] button to open the provider's environment in a separate tab. Copy the credentials provided in the Lab info panel, and paste them into the cloud provider's environment.
- For IT Ops and Security labs, click the Open Environment button to open the environment in a separate tab.
Important: Please always use the Pluralsight-provided credentials to log in to the provided environment.
E. Table of contents
The table of contents helps you navigate the various challenges and estimate the time required for each.
Troubleshooting
Hey, sometimes things happen. We're happy to help you through it.
| Issue | Possible reason | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| All labs | ||
| The lab environment is not loading or is slow to load. | Pluralsight is setting up the lab environment, which can sometimes take several minutes to load. | Some labs may take up to several minutes to load the environment. If prompted, click Retry. Alternatively, trying a different browser may help resolve the issue. |
| Cloud labs only | ||
| Credentials for the cloud provider keep auto-filling | This could be an issue with your password manager or saved logins. | Try the lab using your browser's incognito/private mode. We use specific credentials for each lab, so please always copy/paste the credentials listed in the lab. |
| I'm running into issues, errors, or problems on the cloud provider's site. | There could be any number of issues happening on the cloud provider's instance. | Visit the cloud provider's site documentation and/or reach out to their support team. |
For additional assistance while you're in a cloud provider's site, please reference that provider's documentation or reach out to their support team.
- If you come across issues on the AWS site, please contact AWS support (external site, opens in new tab).
- If you come across issues on the Azure site, please contact Azure support (external site, opens in new tab).
Pluralsight support cannot provide assistance for issues concerning a cloud provider's environment or instance.
If you need help, please contact Pluralsight Support.