---
title: "Creating Lab Groups"
description: "In most cases, a machine does not work in isolation but has dependencies on other services and components, such as Active Directory or DNS. To verify such a machine, the DataLab will have to supply all services on which this machine is dependent."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vro/userguide/creating_lab_groups.html"
breadcrumb: "User Guide > Working with Recovery Plans > Testing Recovery Plans > Creating Lab Groups"
dateModified: "2026-08-26"
---

# Creating Lab Groups

In most cases, a machine does not work in isolation but has dependencies on other services and components, such as Active Directory or DNS. To verify such a machine, the DataLab will have to supply all services on which this machine is dependent. For this purpose, Orchestrator uses lab groups.

::: note

If a recovery plan contains a particular inventory group or machine, it is recommended that you do not test this plan in a DataLab that includes a lab group with the same machine or inventory group.

:::

To create a lab group:

1. Navigate to **DataLabs**.
2. In the **DataLab** column, select a DataLab for which you want to create the lab group, and click **DataLab Editor**.

   For a DataLab to be displayed in the **DataLab** list, it must be added to the scope as described in section [Managing Inventory Items](managing_inventory_items.md).

3. On the **Edit DataLab** page, select the DataLab and click **Add**.
4. In the **Add Inventory Group** window, select inventory groups that you want to include in the DataLab and click **Next**.

   For an inventory group to be displayed in the **Group** list, it must be added to the list of inventory items available for the scope, as described in section [Managing Inventory Items](managing_inventory_items.md).

5. In the **Group Options** window, do the following:

   1. In the **Group settings** section, choose whether the lab group will contain VMs recovered from backups, replicas or CDP replicas.
   2. In the **Processing logic** section, choose how Orchestrator will process VMs in this lab group. For more information on the group settings, see [Configuring Groups](configuring_group_settings.md).
   3. Review configuration information and click **Apply**.

::: note

When you remove a DataLab from a scope, all lab groups in the DataLab are automatically deleted from the DataLab.

:::

[![Creating a Lab Group](images/creating_lab_group.png "Creating a Lab Group")](images/creating_lab_group.png){.toggle scale=55}


## Related Topics

- [Configuring Lab Groups](configuring_lab_groups.md)
- [Working with Default Lab Groups](default_lab_groups.md)