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tags: cloud
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# Azure Labs
**Research Computing Techtalk: 19th March 2021**

## What is Azure Labs?
https://labs.azure.com

... a service from Microsoft Azure that lets you easily create sets of virtual PC (Windows or Linux) 'desktops in the cloud' that you control, can install on them what you like and run labs, workshops etc.

* Throw them away when you're done
* Billed by the second
* Students can install what they like too

## Does it cost?
**YES**

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/pricing/details/lab-services/

So let's say:

* 200 students on a module needing a basic 'PC'
* 20 hours of lab time
* additional 30 hours coursework time (50 hours total)

200 Students X 50 hours per student (10 hours per week X 4 weeks) X 20 Lab Units (Small instance size) X £0.008 per hour per Lab Unit = £1600
and that's for a *fair sized* module.

GPUs and different variants on memory and cores are available