VMware Odyssey by Hands-on Labs Troubleshooting Help and FAQs

Products

• VMWare Hands-on Labs

Issue/Introduction

VMware Odyssey are short tasks that challenge your knowledge of VMware products and solutions. This article provides instructions to follow to resolve errors while accessing VMware Odyssey by Hands-on Labs.

Resolution

If you encounter any problems, contact live support. To better assist you in cases when a simple restart won't fix your problem, save a screenshot of your error message before you proceed with the restart.

Follow the below steps to resolve errors while accessing VMware Odyssey by Hands-on Labs:

1. 1f the error is related to validating a task successfully:
   
   Check and double-check your work! Be sure to follow the instructions exactly. Names are case sensitive. Unfortunately, since this is a competition, we are not able to give hints or suggestions on completing the task. The solutions for tasks are all found in related labs which we recommend taking before the Odyssey lab.
   
   
2. If the VMware Odyssey app is currently open, close it.
   
   If you have started your game, closing the client will not pause the timer. Your elapsed time will continue counting even if the client is closed, and your rank may be affected.
   
   
3. Click the Play VMware Odyssey desktop shortcut.
   
   
   
   Resume the game when prompted.
   
   
   
   
4. If you still experience an error, it may be necessary to end your lab and start over with a fresh lab. If you have already completed some tasks, you will retain your original time and points earned, but you have to repeat those tasks in the new lab when you play again.

If you would prefer, contact live support before restarting your lab.

1. 1. To end your lab, click End on the upper right area of your lab interface:
      
   2. Restart the lab by returning to the launch page or the VMworld portal, and following the same steps as you did before.
   3. When you launch the VMware Odyssey app, the Play again warning is displayed. Check the checkbox (1) and click Play Again (2) to continue.
      

 

Additional Information

FAQs

• Can I play the Odyssey game again?
  • In a Tournament or Competition game, you can only play one time. You can play again to attempt a personal best, but your score will not count towards the leaderboard. If you're not in a tournament, you can play as many times as you want with new enrollments.
• How is my score calculated?
  • Points determine the leaderboard ranking. Points are earned by completing tasks. If all tasks are completed before the clock runs out, bonus points are earned: 1 point per second remaining on the clock.
• Where can I find out more about Odyssey?
  • Please see the VMware Hands-on Labs Odyssey landing page: https://odyssey.vmware.com and https://blogs.vmware.com/hol/2019/10/how-to-use-vmware-odyssey-for-your-next-game-night-event.html (VMware employees may also access our Odyssey Confluence Page.)
• What are some best practices for running a successful Odyssey event?
  • Odyssey labs are a different style – familiarize yourself with the tasks ahead of time! Be prepared to assist or coach, especially for more advanced topics.
  • Allow 10 minutes for user registration, login, etc. in your agenda.
  • Call out following the steps in the manual – especially at the start. Many Odyssey labs require users to log into a client or website before entering the game code. If they enter a game code right away, they could miss key steps for the 1st task.
  • If your event includes a custom leaderboard and game code, be sure to call out the code to ensure all participants are on the right leaderboard.
  • If you want to track attendees, create a Salesforce Tracking ID (SFID) and provide it when filling out your VMware Hands-on Labs in a Box Odyssey request.
  • Have fun, encourage participants, and keep the event lively!
• How long do Odyssey games usually take?
  • Most Odyssey games run for 30 mins – beginner-level games may be shorter, while advanced games often go longer. We recommend an hour for the whole event. The estimated timeline is: 
    • First 15 min – Odyssey intro and walk-through of lab interface. Account creation and making sure players are set (reminder about custom game codes recommended).
    • Next 30 min – Game time! Participants run through the tasks. They do not all have to start at the exact same time, as the validation keeps track of actual participation time for the leaderboard.
    • Last 15 min – Participants who have completed can assist those still working – this is about having fun and working together—hand out prizes (as appropriate).
• What are the requirements to run an Odyssey event smoothly and successfully?
  • Please follow the same general guidelines for all events, especially around network connectivity requirements (300-500 kbps per user with a latency of 240 ms or less) and testing your local connection at the event site, with any networking test tool or the built-in feature in VMware Hands-on Labs (https://labs.hol.vmware.com/HOL/compatibility).
  • Note: If you will not provide thin clients, ensure there are enough computers available to run the games. The requirements above are categorized as required and optional items. The required lines will ensure you have the minimum necessities to run Odyssey at a small local event successfully. For medium-sized events that may span multiple days and attract a larger audience, we created a foundational list of "optional" items that will help drive awareness, buzz, and excitement. For example, adding emcees can help gather a crowd and get more customers to take a lab.
• Are there any plugins/add-ons required to run VMware Hands-on Labs?
  • No, VMware Hands-on Labs is fully hosted in the online portal using HTML5.
• If end users use their device, what data is stored and where?
  • Lab transcripts/history and user profile will be stored securely on the VMware Hands-on Labs Portal; there is no data stored locally.