8Labs: Virtual Cloud Labs

Introduction

8Labs is a virtual labs provider offering cloud-like environments for tinkering and experimentation. It’s designed for developers, researchers, students, and tech enthusiasts who need flexible, powerful computing resources without vendor lock-in or high VPS costs. Users get real, configurable environments with full control to build, break, and learn—then start again.

Background

Launched on July 20, 2024, 8Labs began as an initiative to make real-world Linux learning accessible and affordable. Instead of pushing users into large cloud ecosystems, 8Labs focuses on open, transparent tooling and practical workflows. The platform provides isolated virtual machines where learners and builders can practice system administration, networking, and deployment scenarios that mirror production as closely as possible.

Challenges

1. Preventing abuse while preserving real root access.
2. Achieving cost-efficient infrastructure to enable a generous free tier.
3. Managing fair use across limited resources.
4. Operating a complex, reliable virtualization platform.
5. Monitoring and mitigating abnormal resource spikes without degrading others’ labs.

Solutions

Network-Centric Safety With Real Access

Collaborated with uplink providers and implemented NetFlow monitoring to detect and mitigate misuse while keeping full root access intact. Default labs include public IPv6 and private IPv4 networking for secure, accessible setups. OPNsense is used at the edge for routing and firewalling.

Cost Efficiency Without Lock-In

Leveraged second-hand enterprise hardware to keep costs low and pass savings to users. The stack prioritizes open-source components and vendor neutrality.

Fair Use With Clear Guardrails

Implemented daily and weekly usage quotas with a credit system and manual top-ups. This ensures equitable access while protecting capacity for active learners and builders.

Reliable Virtualization on Open Source

Adopted Proxmox with KVM for VM orchestration. All OS templates are cloud-init ready, enabling fast, repeatable provisioning and consistent configuration. Backups and snapshots use Proxmox’s built-in capabilities (same-machine storage).

Continuous Resource Monitoring

Continuous monitoring watches VM resource consumption and flags abnormal peaks, enabling proactive responses that protect neighboring labs and maintain performance.

Friendly Management and Access

• Cloud panel: Self-service for VM management
• Billing panel: client’s services management and billing
• Console: noVNC desktop and xTerm.js terminal for in-browser access
• Access: Full admin/root with SSH keys provisioned via cloud-init

Key Features

• Public IPv6 per lab; private IPv4 for internal networking
• Edge routing and firewall
• KVM virtualization via Proxmox
• OS images: Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS/Rocky/Alma, FreeBSD (all cloud-init)
• In-browser consoles: noVNC and xTerm.js
• Up to 1Gbps local bandwidth; 100Mbps international
• Snapshots and backups using Proxmox (same host)
• Full admin control; SSH keys managed through cloud-init
• NetFlow-based monitoring and uplink collaboration for abuse prevention
• Continuous resource monitoring to detect abnormal peaks

Impact

• 355 registered users (including requested deletions)
• 590 machines deployed
• 99.5% SLA achieved since release
• 1 partnership established
• Infrastructure: 1 shared free-use server, 2 paid dedicated-resource servers

Conclusion

8Labs advances the mission of open, accessible computing for learning and building. By combining open-source tooling, fair-use policies, and network-first safeguards, it lowers barriers to real-world practice without forcing vendor lock-in. The goal is simple: empower anyone, anywhere, to experiment fearlessly and grow their skills on their own terms.