*Hi Spark Devs and Users,BerkeleyX and Databricks are currently developing two Spark-related MOOC on edX (intro <https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-big-data-apache-spark-uc-berkeleyx-cs100-1x>, ml <https://www.edx.org/course/scalable-machine-learning-uc-berkeleyx-cs190-1x>), the first of which starts on June 1st. Together these courses have over 75K enrolled students!To help students perform exercises course content, we have created a Vagrant box that contains Spark and IPython (running on Ubuntu 32-bit). This will simplify user setup and helps us support them. We are writing to give you early access to the VM environment and the first assignment, and to request your help to test out the VM/assignment before we unleash it to 75K people (see instructions below). We’ve provided instructions below. We’re happy to help if you have any difficulties getting the VM setup; please feel free to contact me (marco.s...@gmail.com <marco.s...@gmail.com>) with any issues, comments, or questions.Sincerely,Marco ShawSpark MOOC TA_____________(This is being sent as an HTML formatted email. Some of the links have been duplicated just in case.)1. Install VirtualBox here <https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads> on your OS (see Windows tutorial here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Sf-m64fcY> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Sf-m64fcY <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Sf-m64fcY>))2. Install Vagrant here <https://www.vagrantup.com/downloads.html> on your OS (see Windows tutorial here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZVS23BaA1I> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZVS23BaA1I <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZVS23BaA1I>))3) Install virtual machine using the following steps: (see Windows tutorial here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJCqHC7IYc> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJCqHC7IYc <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJCqHC7IYc>))a. Create a custom directory (e.g. c:\users\marco\myvagrant or /home/marco/myvagrant)b. Download the file <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark-mooc/mooc-setup/master/Vagrantfile> to the custom directory (NOTE: It must be named exactly "Vagrantfile" with no extension)c. Open a DOS prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) to the custom directory and issue the command "vagrant up"4) Perform basic commands in VM as described below: (see Windows tutorial here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkteLH77IR0> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkteLH77IR0 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkteLH77IR0>))a. To start the VM, from a DOS prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux), issue the command "vagrant up".b. To stop the VM, from a DOS prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux), issue the command "vagrant halt".c. To erase or delete the VM, from a DOS prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux), issue the command "vagrant destroy".d. Once the VM is running, to access the notebook, open a web browser to "http://localhost:8001 <http://localhost:8001/>".5) Using test notebook as described below: (see Windows tutorial here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlfAmyF3Q-s> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlfAmyF3Q-s <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlfAmyF3Q-s>))a. To start the VM, from a DOS prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux), issue the command "vagrant up".b. Once the VM is running, to access the notebook, open a web browser to "http://localhost:8001 <http://localhost:8001/>".c. Upload this IPython notebook: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark-mooc/mooc-setup/master/vm_test_student.ipynb <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark-mooc/mooc-setup/master/vm_test_student.ipynb>.d. Run through the notebook.6) Play around with the first MOOC assignment (email Marco for details when you get to this point).7) Please answer the following questionsa. What machine are you using (OS, RAM, CPU, age)?b. How long did the entire process take?c. How long did the VM download take? Relatedly, where are you located?d. Do you have any other comments/suggestions?*
