Logging into the portal and workspace
Logging in, activating and starting your VM, first time use/new phone steps, resetting your password
There are three steps when logging into new DataLab:
- Log into the DataLab portal where you can access information and settings related to your profile, project and start your virtual machine (VM)
- Activate, then start the VM for your project
- Log into the Citrix DataLab workspace workspace where you and your project teams run analyses and produce output for clearance
Log into the DataLab portal
Click Sign in on the DataLab landing page.
If you are logging in for the first time, you will also need to use the First time use/new phone steps.
For returning users, click on your account (firstname.lastname@mydata.abs.gov.au) or Use another account and enter your account name. All DataLab accounts use the @mydata.abs.gov.au domain format. Enter your password and Sign in.
By logging in you agree to these conditions:
Important Notice
If you are not authorised to access this system, exit immediately. Unauthorised users may be subject to criminal and civil penalties.
This is an Australian Government computer system. Part 10.7 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 outlines the penalties that may apply for unlawful use of Government systems including unauthorised access, modification or impairment of computer systems, data or electronic communications. The Act provides penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for such offences. By proceeding, you are representing yourself as an authorised user and acknowledge you have read and agree to comply with the Responsible Use of ABS Microdata User Guide. Your activity will logged, monitored and investigated should any misuse be suspected.
Sanctions ranging from a reprimand to revocation of access or termination of employment may be imposed if misuse is determined.
For system security, you need to authenticate your log in using the Microdata Authenticator app on your mobile phone. To set this up, see First time use/new phone steps.
A notification from the Microsoft Authenticator app is sent to your phone for you to approve.
If you don't approve within the time limit, click Send another request to my Microsoft Authenticator app. If the request expires, re-enter your account and password in the DataLab log in screen.
You can also change the way you approve the sign in request by selecting Sign in another way.
You then have two options:
- approve a request on your phone app
- use a verification code from your phone app
After you approve in Microsoft Authenticator, you are logged into the DataLab portal.
Activate, then start the VM
To enter your DataLab project workspace you need to:
Step 1 Activate Virtual Machine
Select the Search virtual machines from the My virtual machines tile, or select the laptop icon from the left navigator. For information about other functions you can do within this tile, see Functions in My Virtual Machines.
Each project has a separate virtual machine. The virtual machine name is your project number followed by random letters, which provide a unique name assigned to your profile.
- If your machine already shows a green tick in the Active column, skip to step 2 Start the VM.
- If not, select the Change active VM button. Don't activate a virtual machine when its status is Building. Wait until the status has changed to Ready.
- If your machine shows the status of Dormant you must rebuild the VM first. See VM management options for more information.
Select the machine you want to activate from the drop down list
The Activate VM button becomes active. Select Activate VM.
Confirm your action by selecting Yes. If you have a VM for another project that is currently active, this logs you out of your other session. If you have a program running in your Workspace using another VM, this will stop the program. You can only run multiple VMs if you have requested and are using offline local disk space.
You can track the VM activation progress by either selecting Track from the pop up notification or the icon on the left navigator.
When the VM activation completes, a message confirms that the action was successful. If the action fails, repeat the above steps to activate.
If you navigated to the Action Log page, select the laptop icon in the left navigator to return to the My Virtual Machines page.
Step 2 Start the VM
From the My Virtual Machines page, click on the VM name that is connected to the project you want to work on to view specific settings for this virtual machine. For information about other functions you can do within this tile, see Functions in My Virtual Machines.
The workflow diagram at the top of the page shows you have activated the virtual machine (step 1). You now need to start this machine (step 2).
In the Power State box, select Start VM, and confirm.
You can track the Start VM progress in the Action Log by either selecting track, from the pop up notification or the i icon in the left navigator.
Step 3 Launch the desktop
Starting the VM takes several minutes. If you try to access your workspace too early you will not see your virtual machine in the DataLab Workspace. When it has completed, the status changes from In progress to Succeeded. If the action fails, repeat the steps to Start the VM.
When the status has changed to Succeeded, navigate to the specific VM page described in Start the VM.
You are now at step 3 of the VM workflow diagram. Launch the desktop using the link Go to the DataLab Workspace. This opens the Citrix Workspace application.
Log into Citrix DataLab Workspace
When you click on Go to the DataLab Workspace, the application Citrix Workspace opens. The first time Citrix opens, click Detect Workspace in the pop up message.
If you receive an error instead of launching the Citrix Workspace application, you need to download the Citrix receiver application to your device. The latest version of Citrix Workspace is available at https://www.citrix.com/en-au/downloads/workspace-app/windows/.
Select Open Citrix Workspace Launcher.
For first time users, Citrix provides a tour of the system and its features. If you do not want to take the tour, select maybe later.
If you want to take the tour later, you can access this feature by clicking on the arrow button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
The Citrix dashboard shows your applications and your recently used desktops. If you do not see any desktops under Recent select the Desktops option in the left navigator. Desktop is the Citrix term for virtual machine.
From the All Desktops view, click the virtual machine/Desktop (this is your project number) to open your project in the DataLab environment.
This may prompt a script asking if you want to Open or Save the application. Choose Open.
It may take a few minutes for Citrix to connect to your DataLab desktop. When completed, your DataLab workspace launches.
Log in using the same credentials you used to log into the DataLab Portal. Once logged in, the system may take a few minutes to load as it prepares Windows.
As part of the conditions of use, all activity within the workspace is recorded for auditing and reporting purposes.
Your DataLab workspace looks like this. See Using your workspace.
First time use/new phone steps
The DataLab uses two factor authentication to provide a secure log in environment. You need to download the Microsoft Authenticator application to your smart phone to use the DataLab.
Open https://datalab.abs.gov.au and click Sign in.
The first time you log in, enter the username and password provided to you by us.
If you are using a new phone, refer to the Contact us page for system support.
All DataLab accounts use the @mydata.abs.gov.au domain format.
If you are switching to a new phone (not new account) you will be given the screen ‘More information required’, click ‘Next’.
In Additional security verification, choose Mobile app from the drop-down menu, and Receive notifications for verification. Click the Set up button.
A pop-up appears with 3 steps on how to link your new DataLab account to the Microsoft Authenticator app.
Step 1. Download the Microsoft Authenticator application to your smart phone from the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android). Make sure that the authenticator is published by Microsoft, as the ABS DataLab only supports Microsoft Authenticator.
Step 2. Open the app and create a Work or school account.
Step 3. Select Scan the QR code.
The QR code appears on your screen, scan this with your phone.
Click Next in your browser, which returns you to the Additional security verification screen. Select Next again.
The Additional Security Verification sends a notification to your phone.
From your phone, review the request, Approve sign-in? Choose Approve.
The web page is refreshed. Click Done, then Next to change your password.
Set up a new password for your account. Your password cannot contain your user ID. It must be a minimum of 8 characters and contain at least three of the following:
- upper-case letters A – Z
- lower-case letters a - z
- numbers
- special characters @ # $ % ^ & * - _ ! + = [ ] { } | \ : ' , . ? / ` ~ " ( ) ;
After changing your password, you will be prompted to provide more information. Click "Next".
To make sure you can reset your password in the future, you also need to set up an authentication phone and/or email.
- You need to set up at least one in order to proceed.
- Click Set it up now beside your chosen option.
Authentication by phone
The system verifies your phone by the option you select.
Select the country or region you are registering in from the drop down menu, then enter your mobile number.
Once your phone number is entered, choose between receiving a text or a call to activate the verify button. The text option sends a verification code to your phone. Enter the code then select verify. The call option sends you an automated phone call that will ask you to press the # key to verify.
Authentication by email
Enter an email address to activate the email me button.
A verification code is emailed to you. Enter the verification code and select verify. Once you have set up your details, select Finish to return to DataLab sign in.
Reset your password
If you forget your password select the Forgot my password link.
Your user ID is populated for you. Enter the characters in the picture, or words in the audio. Click Next.
The next screen takes you to Step One of verifying your account. Choose from the options in the left-hand column (options available depend on what you chose during your original account set up process).
Verify your account information via email, text, or call (whichever you chose), and follow the prompts to reset your password. The screen below displays when your password has been reset. Click the link to sign in with your new password.
