Virtual Machine

QUICK START GUIDE

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Document Name: Virtual Machine Quick Start Guide

Date: 2016-01-21

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Contents
 
Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 
System Requirements ....................................................................................................... 2 
Downloading a Pega Academy VM................................................................................... 3 
Installing VM player software ............................................................................................ 3 
Setting up the VM ............................................................................................................. 3 
Setting up the VM on Windows (using 7-Zip) ....................................................... 3 
Setting up the VM on OS X (using StuffIt Expander) ............................................ 4 
Setting VirtualBox Network Preferences ........................................................................... 5 
Starting the VM ................................................................................................................. 7 
Logging in to Designer Studio ........................................................................................... 8 
Shutting Down the VM ...................................................................................................... 9 
Getting Help ...................................................................................................................... 9 
Introduction
This course provides a downloadable exercise system that allows you to complete the exercises that
accompany the course.

This exercise system, a virtual machine (VM), allows you to practice using Pega’s software and
solutions on either Windows or OS X, without having to install or configure the software.

This environment includes Pega’s software, as well as

the PostgreSQL database and the Apache Tomcat web
server that supports the Pega installation.

When you run the VM, you are actually running this
simulated server (the guest) on your computer (the
host). The VM runs on your computer – under your
control – making it a great environment for learning
how to build Pega applications on your own time and
at your convenience.

The VM may not provide an optimal user experience

on older or under-powered systems.

Important Note: Pega Academy exercise system downloads are encoded with compression
algorithms that support file sizes larger than 4GB. These files must be decompressed by a
utility that supports the compression algorithm, therefore we recommend using 7-Zip
(Windows) or Keka (OS X) to decompress files.

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System Requirements
The following are required for completing Pega Academy exercises using the exercise system VM:

Hardware

 Minimum 4 GB RAM
 At least 16 GB of free disk space
 64-bit capable CPU
 Virtualization enabled

Note: If you receive an error message when you try to start your Virtual Machine, your Bios
setting for virtualization is most liley not enabled. You must enable it to continue. We
recommend that you perform a google search to find instructions specific to your equipment.

Operating Systems
 Microsoft Windows: Vista (32-bit only), 7, 8
 OS X

Software
 VM Application: VirtualBox

Note: The exercise system VM is VirtualBox-based. Pega Academy recommends that you
downlolad VirtualBox from http://www.virtualbox.org. Other VM applications can be used but
require that you convert the VM to the appropriate format.

 Web browser: Internet Explorer (9 – 11), Chrome, Safari or Firefox

 MS Office: Pega 7 has migrated to file-based integration with Microsoft Office and
productivity software suites. Beginning in version 7.1.8, Pega 7 supports any version of MS
Office that can read and interpret .docx, .xlsx, and .csv files.
 File decompression software – Pega Academy recommends:
 Windows: 7-Zip http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

 OS X: StuffIt Expander http://my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html

Software for Pega Marketing Courses Only (Windows)

 Bonjour Service — This zero-configuration networking software is required to access the
Pega portal. Click here https://support.apple.com/kb/DL999?locale=en_US to download the
software.

Note: Bonjour Service only needs to be installed on Microsoft Windows computers. It comes
built-in with Apple’s OS X operating systems.

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Downloading a Pega Academy VM
1. Click the Download Exercise System link in the Downloading the Exercise System lesson. A
dialog appears on-screen, and displays a download token ID.

2. Right-click on the Download Token ID and select Save Link As to download the VM.
Once the download begins, you can safely close the Download Token dialog window.

Installing VM player software

Pega Academy recommends using VirtualBox. This application can be downloaded free of charge
from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.

For help installing VirtualBox, please see:

http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.0.10/UserManual.pdf

Setting up the VM
The exercise system VM works on Microsoft Windows and OS X. To keep the VM archive file size as
small as possible, the VM is tightly compressed. Depending on your computer, it may take up to 15
minutes for the archive to fully open.

Setting up the VM on Windows (using 7-Zip)

1. Right-click on the archive file you downloaded from Pega Academy and select 7-Zip >
Extract Files.

2. By default, 7-Zip extracts the archive to your Desktop in a folder named after the file you
downloaded.

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 Power User Tip!

If you want to keep multiple VM instances on your local computer, rename the PegaVM folder
using an abbreviation to represent the course.

For example, if you are creating a folder for the Pega Customer Service Fundamentals course
VM, you could name the folder PegaCSFund VM.

Setting up the VM on OS X (using StuffIt Expander)

1. Right-click on the archive file you downloaded from Pega Academy and select Open With >
StuffIt Expander.

2. By default, StuffIt Expander extracts the archive to the last location you used. The VM
extracts the content into a folder named after the archive file you downloaded from Pega
Academy.

Power User Tip!

If you want to keep multiple VM instances on your local computer, rename the PegaVM folder
using an abbreviation to represent the course.

For example, if you are creating a folder for the Pega Customer Service Fundamentals course
VM, you could name the folder PegaCSFund VM.

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Setting VirtualBox Network Preferences
All VMs from Pega Academy are configured with a Host-only network adapter. This allows the host
machine (your computer) and all virtual machines running on your computer and using the host-
only adapter to be able to communicate with each other.

Power User Tip!

The host-only adapter restricts a VM from accessing the network on which your computer is
connected. This means the VM cannot connect to the network your computer is connected to
or the internet.

To ensure the VMs work correctly, check the host-only network adapter settings in VirtualBox. You
only need to do this once.

1. From the main menu, select File > Preferences (OS X: VirtualBox > Preferences)

2. Click the Network icon, then select the Host-only Networks tab.

3. Select the VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter (OS X: vboxnet0), then click the Edit
icon.

4. The IPv4 Address: field should contain a numeric address such as 192.168.56.1 and the IPv4
Network Mask: field should contain a numeric address such as 255.255.255.0.

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 If these numeric addresses are present, proceed to the next step. If these addresses are not
present, enter 192.168.56.1 in the IPv4 Address field and 255.255.255.0 in the IPv4 Network
Mask field.

5. Click the DHCP Server tab.

6. Ensure the Enable Server check box is selected and each of the fields contain numeric
addresses as shown.

7. Once you have confirmed the IP addresses, click OK, then OK again to save and close the
Preferences dialog window. Remember these addresses only need to be added once for the
VirtualBox.

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Starting the VM
The VMs available on Pega Academy are typically configured to use between 2 and 4 GB of your
computer’s memory. Before starting the VM, it may be necessary to shut down all non-essential
applications, especially if your computer has the minimum 4 GB RAM as noted in the System
Requirements.

Power User Tip!

Every VM is allocated a predefined amount of random access memory (RAM). However, this
predefined amount of RAM is considered the maximum amount of RAM the VM is allowed to
use. The actual amount of RAM used when running the VM may be considerably lower.

1. Windows: Click Start > Programs > Oracle VM VirtualBox > Oracle VM VirtualBox
OS X: Launch the VirtualBox app using your preferred method for launching apps

2. From the Machine menu option, click Add . . .

3. Navigate to the folder you created when setting up the VM and select the VirtualBox file
(*.vbox) and click Open. Your virtual machine appears in the left pane of the Oracle VM
VirtualBox Manager.

4. Start the VM by selecting the VM in the left pane and from the menu click the green start
arrow (normal start).

5. Wait for the VM to start. Within 30 seconds, you should see the login screen.

Once you see the login screen, you can minimize the VM application player window to your Taskbar.

You do not need to log in to use the VM, though you must wait about 3-4 minutes before you log in
to Designer Studio using your web browser.

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Logging in to Designer Studio
After 3-4 minutes, open a browser of your choice on your computer and enter the URL shown in the
VM login screen.

Important

The IP address shown in bolded text in the image above is for example purposes only. The IP
address displayed in your VM will most likely be different.

The home page provides information about the course and a link to access the Designer Studio.

To login to the Designer Studio, use the user name and password provided in the course materials
to complete the exercises.

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Shutting Down the VM
Pega Academy recommends shutting down the VM when you are finished using it.

1. Logout of the Pega Designer Studio.

2. From the VirtualBox Manager application, right click on the virtual machine you want to
shutdown and select Close > ACPI Shutdown.

3. Click the ACPI Shutdown button to confirm the shutdown request.

Alternatively, from the Machine menu item, select ACPI Shutdown.

Getting Help
Technical support for VM is available to all students who are enrolled in Pega Academy courses that
use the VM. If you experience technical difficulties with VM, visit the Pega Academy Exercise System
forum page at http://pdn.pega.com/forums/pega-academy/exercise-system.pvs. If you do not find
an answer to your problem after searching this forum, post a message and we will assist you as
soon as possible.

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