Is it possible to create custom Lab Types / Lab Templates

Question

Hello,

Is it possible to create custom lab templates based on resource types other than Virtual Machines?

For example, if we wanted to deliver classes that relied on a standardised Azure App Services, Azure SQL or Azure Service Bus environment.

Regards
Sam

Answer 1

Hi @mtwelve Thanks for posting your query on Microsoft Q&A.

Azure Lab Services
To get an idea on the Class types supported by Azure Lab services, please take a look at the documentation here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/lab-services/class-types

As per my understanding, it is currently not possible to create labs in Azure labs services based on resource types other than VM images. However, once the lab is created, you can modify the template machine with the software you need or use ARM templates to include other resources.

In order to set up a lab in Azure lab services, you would need to either select from the Marketplace images available that suits your scenario or create a custom VM image. The marketplace images, however can also include many other developmental tools. If you don't want those extra tools and want a lightweight setup, you can create a custom VM image. In case of custom VM image, once the custom image is created, you can upload it to a compute gallery to use the image inside Azure Lab Services. Learn more about using compute gallery in Azure Lab Services.

Set up a lab to manage and develop with SQL Server example will help you understand how to set up a lab for a basic SQL Server management and development class in Azure Lab Services.

Azure DevTest Labs
You can also consider Azure DevTest labs for your use case. DevTest Labs supports PaaS through environments, which can include both PaaS and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) resources. Environments contain services and software like virtual machines (VMs), databases, virtual networks, and web apps that are customized to work together.

Azure DevTest Labs is a service for easily creating, using, and managing infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) virtual machines (VMs) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) environments in labs. Labs offer preconfigured bases and artifacts for creating VMs, and Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates for creating environments like Azure Web Apps or SharePoint farms.

Azure DevTest Labs has a public ARM template repository that includes pre-authored environment templates for Azure Web Apps, an Azure Service Fabric cluster, and development SharePoint farms.

Documentation that you may find helpful:

• Compare Azure DevTest Labs and Azure Lab Services
• Create a lab in Azure Lab services using an ARM template
• Azure DevTest Labs scenarios
• Use ARM templates to create DevTest Labs environments

----------

Please "Accept as Answer" if this helped, so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution.
If you have further questions or need more clarity, do let me know in the comments and I would be happy to investigate further/involve internal teams as needed.