Let’s face it: evaluating enterprise software-defined storage solutions can be a headache. Traditional POCs often require you to provision hardware, untangle complex networking rules, and spend days just configuring the baseline environment before you can actually test anything.
We believe that trying out high-performance, software-defined storage should be as fast, flexible, and efficient as the storage itself. That is why we are thrilled to introduce the Lightbits Self-Service Demo Lab – a fully isolated, on-demand testing sandbox designed to get you from zero to “wow” in minutes.
The Ultimate “Zero-Install” Experience
We’ve removed the friction from the trial process. Our self-service portal allows you to launch fully functional, pre-configured Lightbits environments with just a few clicks—no waiting on IT, no software installations, and no complicated local setups.
- 100% Clientless Access: Once you connect to our secure VPN, you access your lab entirely through your web browser via our HTML5 gateway. No local SSH keys or heavy remote desktop clients are required.
- A Familiar Desktop Interface: Instead of dropping you into a cold, blank terminal, every lab comes equipped with a fully graphical Linux Desktop “Jumphost.”
- Pre-Loaded and Ready to Go: Your virtual desktop comes pre-loaded with everything you need. You’ll find direct desktop shortcuts for password-less SSH connections to your nodes, pre-installed CLI tools, and a pre-configured browser ready to launch the Photon UI.
Real-Time Insights at a Glance
We want you to spend your time exploring, not troubleshooting. Your interactive Jumphost features a live desktop widget that provides real-time health checks on your lab. At a glance, you can see the IPs of your environment, the active status of your Lightbits clusters, and the readiness of your orchestration tools.
Because every isolated lab utilizes the same internal IP scheme, our built-in Lab Guidebook matches your environment perfectly. You can follow along with tutorials and test scenarios without ever having to mentally translate IP addresses.
Test the Full Ecosystem
Lightbits doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and neither does our demo lab. You can select from a catalog of pre-baked lab topologies to test Lightbits exactly how you plan to deploy it in the real world:
- Standard Linux Environments: Perfect for general sandboxing and exploring the Photon management UI.
- Kubernetes (K8s) Integration: Test our native CSI driver and see how seamlessly Lightbits provisions persistent volumes for your containerized workloads.
- OpenShift (OKD) Integration: Explore our deep integration with Red Hat OpenShift, complete with Virtualization testing.
- Cluster Federation: Spin up multi-cluster environments to test advanced features and at-scale management.
See It in Action
Want a sneak peek of the experience before you jump in?
Watch our Demo Lab Walkthrough on YouTube to see exactly how fast and easy it is to deploy and interact with a fully configured Lightbits environment.
Ready to Test Drive Lightbits?
Whether you need a quick 2-hour sandbox to explore the UI or a multi-day environment for an extended workshop, the lab lifecycle manager ensures your resources are reserved for as long as you need them – even sending you a desktop notification 15 minutes before your lab expires so you never lose your work.
Stop provisioning and start testing. Request your Lightbits Demo Lab access today and experience the future of NVMe/TCP storage in minutes.