Experiencing a seamless hands-on learning experience is our priority at CyberDefenders. Our lab machines are designed to offer you a straightforward and effective way to enhance your cybersecurity skills. Should you encounter any connectivity issues with our labs, this guide is here to help you troubleshoot and resolve them quickly.
Selecting the Correct Lab Region
For an optimal lab experience with our in-browser cloud-based machines, selecting the lab region closest to your geographical location is crucial. This choice can significantly reduce latency, leading to smoother interactions and faster response times within the lab environment. To assist you in making the best selection, we recommend using AWS Latency Test tool. Here are the steps:
1- Running The Test: Navigate to the AWS Latency Test website and select the following 4 regions to initiate the test.
Middle East (UAE)
US East (N. Virginia)
Asia Pacific (Singapore)
Europe (Frankfurt)
2- Inspecting Results: The test will display latency values in milliseconds (ms). Look for the region with the lowest latency value, as this indicates the fastest connection speed to the server from your location.
3- Region Selection: When starting your lab session on our platform, choose the region that corresponds with the lowest latency in your test results.
Common Connectivity Issues and Solutions
Lab Machine Does Not Start
Browser Compatibility: Verify that you are using a compatible and up-to-date web browser. We recommend Chrome for the best experience.
Ad Blockers: Disable any ad blockers that may prevent lab machines from launching.
Laggy Lab Performance, Disconnections, or Timeouts
Check Internet Connection: Ensure your internet connection is stable and there are no packet loss issues.
Region Selection: Choose a lab region closest to your geographical location to minimize latency.
Bandwidth Usage: Limit bandwidth-intensive activities on your network or machine during lab sessions.
VPN or Proxy: If you are using a VPN or proxy, try disconnecting it to see if the lab connectivity improves.
Error Messages or Codes
Refresh: Sometimes, simply refreshing your browser or restarting the lab can resolve temporary issues.
Documentation & Support: Take note of any error messages or codes displayed and forward them to our support team.
Other Troubleshooting Steps
If the above solutions do not resolve your connectivity issues:
Clear Browser Cache: Clearing your browser's cache can resolve conflicts that may affect lab performance.
Try a Different Network: Some network environments, especially corporate or educational networks, have restrictions that may impact lab connectivity. If possible, try connecting from a different network.
Still Need Help?
If you've gone through these troubleshooting steps and still face issues with lab connectivity, we're here to help. Please refer to our "Contacting CyberDefenders Support" article to contact us, and don't forget to provide the following information:
A brief description of the issue.
Any error messages or codes you've encountered.
The region you selected for your lab session.