Purpose

The Platform X Control Panel is a web application that researchers can easily use to access their lab benches, stop & start VMs, and view cost reports.

Connecting to Platform X cloud resources requires a number of Azure CLI commands and can be difficult to remember.  A web app was created to facilitate the process, and also to host other resource management functions.

Note the CLI commands are still a viable way to connect and provide some benefits: those commands can be found here: Platform X: User Guide - Project-Specific Azure Commands (or viewed in the Platform X Control Panel using the 'List All Commands' button).

Definitions

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Requirements

• A Browser on a workstation that is connected to an approved VPN
  • most commonly using the Global Protect VPN with gateway address smph.vpn.wisc.edu

Usage

Website URL and Authentication

Navigate to the web app at https://controlpanelstg.platformx.wisc.edu/ (after the app completes initial testing, it will be published at https://controlpanel.platformx.wisc.edu).

Select the 'Login' button on the sidebar.  Once authenticated, use the sidebar menu items to navigate.

NOTE: A connection to an approved VPN (eg smph.vpn.wisc.edu) is required for accessing resources.  Logging in will fail if the workstation is not connected to the VPN.

Project Management

Navigate to 'Project Control Panel' using the sidebar menu item of the same name.  If you have access to more than one project, dropdowns will be present: expand the relevant category to view accessible project(s).  Select the project to load resources and populate the main window.

Virtual Machines tab

A list of virtual machines in the project will appear, and the 'Project Management' menu on the right side will be populated with available commands.  The below screenshot shows some: more may be added, and some may be disabled (either because it doesn't apply in the current context, or the feature is not yet available).

VM Control

Follow the prompts to initialize resources, launch commands, or request help.

The current state of a VM is listed after the name (for example 'VM running' if powered on, or 'VM deallocated' if currently off).  The color of a virtual machine's name also changes to reflect its current state.

Start VM

Selecting this button will power on the VM resource in Azure--note this operation typically takes several minutes.  While the operation is running, the web app will display a notification:

The VM state will change to 'VM Running' once complete and the menu will refresh, ready for the next action.

Remote into VM

The 'Remote into VM' command opens the VM's Bastion page in the Azure Portal in a new tab, ready to receive credentials. 

Populate the Username and Password field with the following values:

Username: AzureAd\{netId}@platformx.wisc.edu

Password: {Px Account password}

(don't include the curly braces, they are simply used to denote where personalized content needs to be inserted in the above)

Stop VM

Selecting this button will deallocate the VM resource in Azure (meaning no charges are incurred for the resource).  This operation typically takes several minutes.  While the operation is running, the web app will display a notification:

Project Management Commands

Support Menu Items