Refresh Connect to a lab VM

Author: ntrogh

articles/lab-services/connect-virtual-machine.md

@@ -1,18 +1,24 @@
 ---
-title: How to connect to an Azure Lab Services VM | Microsoft Docs
-description: Learn how to connect to a VM in Azure Lab Services
+title: How to connect to a lab VM
+titleSuffix: Azure Lab Services
+description: Learn how to connect to a lab VM in Azure Lab Services.
 services: lab-services
+ms.service: lab-services
+author: ntrogh
+ms.author: nicktrog
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 02/1/2022
+ms.date: 02/17/2023
 ---
 
 # Connect to a lab VM
 
-As a student, you'll need to [start](how-to-use-lab.md#start-or-stop-the-vm) and then connect to your lab VM to complete your lab work.  How you connect to your VM will depend on the operating system (OS) of the machine your using and the OS of the VM your connecting to.  
+In this article, you learn how to connect to a lab virtual machine (VM) in Azure Lab Services. Depending on the operating system (OS) and you local machine, you can use different mechanisms, such as secure shell (SSH) or remote desktop (RDP), to connect to your VM.
+
+To connect to a lab VM, the VM must be running. Learn more about [how to start and stop a lab VM](how-to-use-lab.md#start-or-stop-the-vm).
 
 ## Connect to a Windows lab VM
 
-If connecting *to a Windows VM*, follow the instructions based on the type of OS you're using.
+Follow these instructions to connect to a Windows-based lab VM. Choose the instructions that match your local machine's operating system.
 
 | Client OS | Instructions |
 | --------- | ------------ |
@@ -22,18 +28,18 @@ If connecting *to a Windows VM*, follow the instructions based on the type of OS
 
 ## Connect to a Linux lab VM
 
-This section shows students how to connect to a Linux VM in a lab using secure shell protocol (SSH), remote desktop protocol (RDP), or X2Go.  
+To connect to a Linux-based lab VM, you can use the secure shell protocol (SSH), remote desktop protocol (RDP), or X2Go.
 
-SSH is configured automatically for Linux VMs.  Both students and educators can SSH into Linux VMs without any extra setup.  However, if students need to connect to using a GUI, the educators may need to do extra setup on the template VM.
+Azure Lab Services automatically configures SSH for Linux VMs. Both lab users and lab creators can SSH into Linux VMs without additional setup. If you want to connect to a VM with a Linux GUI, the lab creator might need to do extra setup on the template VM.
 
 > [!WARNING]
-> If you need to use [GNOME](https://www.gnome.org/) or [MATE](https://mate-desktop.org/) you should coordinate with your educator to ensure your lab VM is properly configured. For details, see [Using GNOME or MATE graphical desktops](how-to-enable-remote-desktop-linux.md#using-gnome-or-mate-graphical-desktops).
+> If you need to use [GNOME](https://www.gnome.org/) or [MATE](https://mate-desktop.org/) you should coordinate with the lab creator to ensure that your lab VM has the correct configuration. For details, see [Using GNOME or MATE graphical desktops](how-to-enable-remote-desktop-linux.md#using-gnome-or-mate-graphical-desktops).
 
-### Connect to a Linux lab VM Using RDP
+### Connect to a Linux lab VM using RDP
 
-An educator must first [enable remote desktop connection for Linux VMs](how-to-enable-remote-desktop-linux.md#rdp-setup).
+Before you can connect to a Linux VM using RDP, the lab creator first needs to [enable remote desktop connection for Linux VMs](how-to-enable-remote-desktop-linux.md#rdp-setup).
 
-To connect *to a Linux VM using RDP*, follow the instructions based on the type of OS you're using.
+To connect to a Linux VM using RDP, follow the instructions based on the type of OS you're using.
 
 | Client OS | Instructions |
 | --------- | ------------ |
@@ -45,22 +51,32 @@ To connect *to a Linux VM using RDP*, follow the instructions based on the type
 
 Linux VMs can have X2Go enabled and a graphical desktop installed.  For more information, see [X2Go Setup](how-to-enable-remote-desktop-linux.md#setting-up-x2go) and [Using GNOME or MATE graphical desktops](how-to-enable-remote-desktop-linux.md#using-gnome-or-mate-graphical-desktops).  
 
-For instructions to connect *to a Linux VM using X2Go*, see [Connect to a VM using X2Go](connect-virtual-machine-linux-x2go.md).
+For instructions to connect to a Linux VM using X2Go, see [Connect to a VM using X2Go](connect-virtual-machine-linux-x2go.md).
 
 ### Connect to a Linux lab VM using SSH
 
-By default Linux VMs have SSH installed. To connect *to a Linux VM using SSH*, do the following actions:
+By default Linux VMs have SSH installed. To connect to a Linux VM using SSH:
+
+1. If you're using a Windows machine to connect to the lab VM, ensure you have SSH client software on your machine.
+
+    The latest version of Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a built-in SSH client. Learn how you can use the [access the built-in SSH client](/windows/terminal/tutorials/ssh).
+
+    Alternately, you can download an SSH client, such as [PuTTY](https://www.putty.org/) or enable [OpenSSH in Windows](/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh_install_firstuse).
 
-1. If using a Windows machine to connect to a Linux VM, first install an ssh client like [PuTTY](https://www.putty.org/) or enable [OpenSSH in Windows](/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh_install_firstuse).
-1. [Start the VM](how-to-use-lab.md#start-or-stop-the-vm), if not done already.
-1. Once the VM is running, select **Connect**, which will show a dialog box that provides the SSH command string.  The connection command will look like the following sample:
+1. If the lab VM is not running, go to the [Azure Lab Services website](https://labs.azure.com), and then [start the lab VM](how-to-use-lab.md#start-or-stop-the-vm).
+
+1. Once the VM is running, select the **Connect** icon > **Connect via SSH**, to get the SSH command string
+
+    The connection command looks like the following sample:
 
     ```bash
     ssh -p 12345 student@ml-lab-00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000.eastus2.cloudapp.azure.com
     ```
 
 1. Copy the command.
+
 1. Go to your command prompt or terminal, paste in the command, and then press **ENTER**.
+
 1. Enter the password to sign in to the lab VM.
 
 ## Next steps