Virtual Machines and Remote Software Access

We offer remote-access to specialized software through our Azure Labs and Coder Workspace services.

Azure Labs Machines

Azure Labs machines are Windows-based virtual machines running in Microsoft's public cloud. We offer machines three configurations:

  • Dreamlab-GeoSpatial
    • Esri ArcGIS Pro 3.5: Includes Esri's custom Python 3.8, including Jupyter notebooks.
    • QGIS 3.40: Includes LAS Tools for LIDAR analysis
    • Adobe/Terrago toolbar for viewing multi-layer PDFs
       
  • Dreamlab-DataStats
    • EViews
    • Mathematica
    • SPSS
    • R/R Studio
    • OpenRefine
    • Anaconda Python 3.11 distro
  • Dreamlab-Qual (only to users who filled out the specialty software request) 
    • MaxQDA (only to users who filled out an EUA) 
    • Nvivo (only to users who filled out an EUA) 
    • QualCoder (opensource) 

Git for Windows, MS Office (Excel, Powerpoint, and Word), and the Sublime text editor are included on both machines.

Request access to one or both virtual machines by filling out this google form. 

*If you are faculty or a TA who needs access for an entire course please contact the DREAM Lab by emailing dreamlab@library.ucsb.edu with 45 days notice. 

Azure Labs Use Guidelines

Keep in mind when using our Azure Labs services:

  • Back up your work!  Access to files you leave on your Lab machine is not guaranteed.
  • DO NOT UPDATE YOUR ArcPRO Version. ArcPro is configured for 3.3 and while you can update your Pro version, you may run into version control issues elsewhere. We will need to reset your lab to its original settings if this occurs. 
  • Do not use a VPN, the campus VPN or otherwise! It will break your Lab VM. If this happens, you will have to start with a fresh machine.
  • Lab VMs are issued with 50 hours of use. You may request more.
    • ​Users will need to both sign off their VMs and stop the VM from running (see login instructions)
  • These are University computing resources.  UCSB Terms of Use apply.

Coder Workspaces

Coder workspaces are on-demand virtual machines with commonly used data science tools. They run a Linux-based operating system (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS) on computing infrastructure provided by College of Letters and Science IT. Anyone with an active UCSB Net ID may create a workspace and use it for the duration of the quarter. You can use your workspace for data science projects (without needing to install software on your personal computer) or to learn about Linux system management.

To create a coder workspace visit https://coder.dreamlab.ucsb.edu

Coder Workspace Use Guidelines

  • Data stored on the workspace is not backed up. You are responsible for maintaining backups of your data.
  • All workspaces are automatically deleted at the end of each quarter.
  • You may create and use one workspace at a time. If you have multiple active workspaces, they may be deleted without notice.
  • Workspaces may be inaccessible during scheduled maintenance windows, which will be announced by email.
  • Your workspaces will “stop” (shut off) automatically after four hours of inactivity to conserve resources.
  • You may install additional software on the VM as needed.
  • Your workspace may be accessed by staff in the Library or LSIT. Do not store confidential or sensitive information in your workspace.

JupyterHub in the Classroom

Letters & Sciences IT offers JupyterHub instances for classroom use.