Step 6: Working with Virtual Machines
Virtual machines (VMs) provide a secure, isolated compute environment inside the tiCrypt enclave. Data never leaves the encrypted infrastructure.
VM Lifecycle
Open the Virtual Machines Section
Click Virtual Machines in the top toolbar, then select VMs in the left panel.
Create a VM Configuration
Click Create configuration and follow the 5-step wizard:
- Basic Information -- name, team, project, and co-owners
- Hardware Setup -- CPU cores, memory, and OS image
- Home Drive -- select or create a primary storage drive
- Extra Drives -- attach additional storage (optional)
- Actions -- optionally launch the VM immediately
A VM configuration is a reusable template. Your drives persist between sessions. For all VM options, see Virtual Machines in the User Guide.
Start a Virtual Machine
Select your VM configuration, then click Start VM. Wait for the status to change to Running.
Connect to a Virtual Machine
After the VM is running, click Connect VM to attach your drives and establish your session. You must connect before opening Remote Desktop or transferring files.
Remote Desktop and Terminal
Click Start Remote Desktop to open a graphical desktop in your browser. In the credentials prompt, click Copy to copy your username and password, then paste them into the RDP session. You can also open a Terminals session for command-line access.
Transfer Files Between Vault and VM
With a connected VM, drag files between the Vault (left panel) and VM drives (right panel). You can select multiple files for bulk transfers.
Manage Drives
Drives are encrypted storage volumes that persist between VM sessions. Create, attach, and share drives from the Drives section in the left panel.
For all drive operations, see Drives in the User Guide.
Remote File System (SSHFS)
Mount a running VM's file system on your local machine using SSHFS. Click SFTP to VM and follow the instructions for your OS.
For full setup instructions, see Remote File System in the User Guide.
Add Users to a Virtual Machine
Share a running VM with other users from the Users section in the VM panel.
Shut Down a Virtual Machine
Click the Open Full Menu button next to the VM, select Power, then click Normal Shutdown. Your drives and data are preserved.
Use the normal Shut down option whenever possible. Force shut down should only be used if the VM is unresponsive, as it may cause data corruption.
Next Steps
You have completed the user training track. For deeper reference on each area:
| Topic | Guide |
|---|---|
| VM configurations | Virtual Machines > Overview |
| VM drives and storage | Virtual Machines > Drives |
| SLURM batch jobs | Virtual Machines > Submitting Jobs via SLURM |
| Remote file access | Virtual Machines > Remote File System |
| All file operations | Vault > Files |