This is how i built my VMware,network & Active Directory Lab
The project involved setting up a virtualization home lab for Active Directory using Oracle’s VirtualBox and VMware. The virtual environment, the server, networking and security settings were configured by me. The primary objective of the project was to create a practical testing environment that simulated a genuine Active Directory setup in a non production environment. I ran it on my home gaming PC and used dual monitors for convenience.
Screenshot of my PC hardware specs
For this project, I utilized Oracle’s VirtualBox to create virtual machines and configure the lab. Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 Pro were installed as virtual machines, and the Active Directory domain was configured. To ensure communication between the virtual machines, I employed networking tools like DHCP and DNS. I also have a virtual Ubuntu installation and a Apple Mac mini that i bought on Ebay for training purposes that i plan to add later.
In the Image: Installed Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 PRO as the client.
During the project, I faced challenges in getting the virtual machines to communicate with each other. However, I overcame this obstacle after a few attempts by adjusting the networking settings. Since im using only one Domain Controller that created some issues that i was able to identify and correct by looking at the event viewer.
Issues i have to solve
One of the issues was that i found was needed to change the DNS settings of the Win 10 client NIC to match the IP of the server (a basic thing), then used the command ping (ip address) to verify proper connectivity. Additionally, I had to address some Active Directory configuration issues related to the DNS server, which I resolved by conducting online research. If you know where to look you can solve issues quickly.
Abilities Learned
This project allowed me to develop my abilities in virtualization, network configuration, and Active Directory management. I practiced how to add computers to a domain, create groups with different privilege levels, create and apply GPO’s, manage user accounts, reset passwords, verify logs and a few extra things. Then i decided to switch from VirtualBox to VMware and repeated the entire process again.
VMware VS VirtualBox
I liked VMware more than VirtualBox and i see now why VMware is the industry standard for virtualization. It improved my capacity to troubleshoot and solve problems, as well as my enthusiasm for learning and adapting to new technologies. As my lab keeps growing i will keep experimenting and moving to more advanced tasks.
In the screenshot: My virtual machine installations (Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 Pro).