ITC-2000 Lab Install Windows on Remote Lab PCs

Objectives

In this lab, you will install Windows 10 on two remote lab PCs

Background/Scenario

In order to complete many of the remaining labs in this course, you will need to use Windows. This lab provides a basic installation in order to get Windows up and running on a remote lab PC which you can access from a web browser.

Required Resources

• An ITCnet account for VPN access (your instructor should have provided you with a username and a temporary password)
• A IHCC Netlab account for remote pod access (your instructor should have provided you with a username and a temporary password)
• A remote lab equipment pod for this course consisting of:
  • Two remote lab PCs which Windows 10 can be installed on
  • One OpenWRT router system
• A computer which can have the OpenVPN software installed on it
• A reliable broadband internet connection

Instructions

Step 1: Get ITCnet Access Working

• If you are working from off campus you will need to connect to the ITCnet VPN.
  • Instructions for installing the OpenVPN software and getting connected to the ITCnet via VPN can be found here including links to videos showing various parts of the process.
  • Your instructor should have provided you with an ITCnet account username and a temporary password which you will need in order to connect. If you have previously setup an ITCnet account and changed your password try your own password first. Please note that although the usernames may be the same the ITCnet account is entirely separate from any other IHCC or Minnstate accounts you may have and the passwords are stored separately. Updating one of these other accounts will not update your ITCnet account or vice-versa.

Step 2: Change Your ITCnet Account Password

• If this is the first time you have connected to ITCnet and are using the temporary password provided by your instructor you should change your password to something new.
• Instructions on how to change your ITCnet account password can be found here on the Wiki including links to videos showing the process.
• Note that your new password will be used anywhere you are asked to use your ITCnet credentials including VPN access.

Step 3: Sign In to the Netlab System

• The ITC Netlab remote lab system can be accessed using a web browser when you are attached to the ITCnet. Simply point your web browser to https://ihcc-netlab.campus.ihitc.net
• The first time you load the page in your web browser you may need to accept a "self-signed" security certificate. The process for doing this varies from one web browser to another.
• Usernames and passwords for Netlab are provided by your instructor. Please note that although the usernames may be the same the Netlab account is entirely separate from your ITCnet account and any other IHCC or Minnstate accounts you may have and the passwords are stored separately. Updating one of these other accounts will not update your Netlab account or vice-versa.
• The first time you log in you will need to change your password and set your timezone. Make sure your timezone is set correctly so you can schedule reservations to work with equipment at convenient times.
• Additional details on accessing Netlab can be found on the Wiki.

Step 4: Make a Pod Reservation in Netlab

• Each time you want to work on a lab in Netlab you need to make a reservation to work on your equipment "pod". In some classes pods are shared with other students and in other classes pods are reserved just for you or your team.
• You will want to make a reservation for the "PC Hardware and Software Lab Access (2 Windows PCs with Network Access)" lab which we'll use several times throughout the course.
• Detailed instructions on making a pod reservation can be found on the Wiki Netlab Access page too.

Step 5: Access a Remote Lab PC and Install Windows

• You will need to enter your reservation during the time you have access reserved in order to interact with your remote lab PCs. Instructions for accessing a pod during your reservation can be found on the Wiki Netlab Access page.
• You should be able to click on the "PC 1" tab to view and interact with the display of the first remote lab PC.
• If you access it immediately after your reservation starts you'll probably see an "EFI network unsuccessful" message on the screen. After a few minutes you will see a blue "Boot Manager" screen.
• At this point you are ready to begin installing Windows 10. The Windows installation disc has already been loaded into your remote lab PCs so just use your arrow keys to move down to the "EFI VMware Virtual SATA CDROM Drive (0,0)" option and press enter. If your arrow keys don't seem to be moving anything on the screen try clicking in the blue boot manager screen with your mouse first and then using the arrow keys to change the selection.
• You will see a quick message "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD..." press a key quickly while this message is on screen, this will start the Windows Setup process. If you miss this message the system will return the blue "Boot Manager" screen and you can try again. The message is only on screen for a few seconds during which you must press a key to launch the setup process.
• Follow the same basic steps you used in "Lab 3.1.2.6 - Install Windows" to complete the Windows 10 installation process. You will probably notice the installation process goes much faster on our remote lab PCs.
  • Be sure to choose a new installation, not to repair an existing one. If prompted choose to install "Windows 10 Education" or "Windows 10 Enterprise". Also, choose to do a "Custom" installation, not an upgrade, and delete all existing partitions (note that this will erase all data on the computer).
  • Your remote lab PCs are not connected to the Internet by default so there is no need to ensure they are disconnected during the setup process.
  • If you are prompted for a license or activation key choose that you do not have one or to skip the step.
  • During the account creation process use the name "ITC Admin" and the password "Password123!" be sure to write them down because you will need them again later in the course.

Step 6: Enable Internet Access

• Open the Edge web browser on your remote lab PC and connect to http://192.168.1.1 and log in with the username "root" and password "pchardware"
• Click the Network -> Interfaces menu option. Click the "Edit" button on the WAN interface and change the Protocol from "Unmanaged" to "DHCP Client".
• Click the green "Save" button on that dialog and then the blue "Save & Apply" button in the lower right.
• After about a minute you should have working Internet access from your remote lab PC. Test and make sure this is working.

Step 7: Install the VMware Tools Drivers

• Right click on the Windows Start Menu in the lower left and choose "Run"
• Enter "\\172.17.139.70" in the open box.
• Log in with your ITCnet username but add "@campus.ihitc.net" onto the end of your username like myuserid@campus.ihitc.net and your ITCnet password (which you should have changed in Step 2). If you get an error message the first time you try this do it again as that will usually clear up the issue.
• Open the "Student Files" and then "VMware Tools" folders.
• Run the "setup64" file and follow the prompts to install the drivers and reboot your remote lab system
• Your remote lab system will now shutdown safely when your reservation ends or you log out of Netlab.

Step 8: Disable the Internet and Complete the Windows Installation on PC 2

• You will now need to complete the Windows 10 installation again on the second remote lab PC but before you start the installation it's important you disable Internet access so you can correctly complete the account setup process on the second PC.
• Open the Edge web browser on your remote lab PC and connect to http://192.168.1.1 and log in with the username "root" and password "pchardware"
• Click the Network -> Interfaces menu option. Click the "Edit" button on the WAN interface and change the Protocol from "DHCP Client" to "Unmanaged".
• Click the green "Save" button on that dialog and then the blue "Save & Apply" button in the lower right.
• After about a minute your Internet access should have stopped working from your first remote lab PC. Test and make sure Internet has stopped working.
• Start back at Step 5 again, this time on your remote lab "PC 2" tab in Netlab and get Windows installed, the Internet re-activated, and the VMware Tools Drivers installed on PC 2.

Finishing Your Lab

• Once you are done with the lab activity you can shut down both PC 1 and PC 2. It's always a good habit to properly shutdown a computer using the shutdown command in the operating system before you turn off the power. In Windows this can be done by clicking the Start Menu in the lower left of each PC and choosing the "Power" button followed by "Shutdown". Doing this prevents data corruption which can occur if the power is suddenly removed from a PC.
• However, if you forget to do this in Netlab and you have properly installed the VMware Tools Drivers Netlab will take care of safely shutting down your PCs for you.
• If you still have time remaining in your Netlab reservation it's polite to click on the "Reservation" menu in the upper right corner of your browser and choose "End Reservation Now" which will free your spot on the Netlab system immediately for someone else to use.