This is not a definitive list, but in most cases, you will need to perform the following tasks when setting a VM up - or editing an existing one:
- Make any configuration changes needed on the base operating system.
- Install any additional software required for the lab activities.
- In most cases you will only need to do steps 1 & 2 once, for the first lab stage. If you then make a point of using previous stage VMs as the basis for your subsequent VMs, these subsequent VMs will already have the additional software installed. - Install any files, data or other non-software components required for the current lab stage
- Depending on how big these are, it may be easier to simply author them from scratch within the VM. Alternatively, you will need to upload them to somewhere that is accessible from within the VM console (e.g. an FTP server, some webspace or a network drive). - Configure the VM so that it automatically loads any required software/documents/etc immediately after boot
- On a Windows VM, this will usually involve adding options to the Startup folder in the Start Menu. - CRUCIAL: MAKE THE VM SAFE, FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR! NEVER FORGET THIS!
- Shut down the VM using its console via the standard functions (e.g. on a Windows VM, go to the Start menu and select Shut Down).