EphingLab

Creates test lab and allows the user to run their own scripts and files to customize the lab as they see fit.

This project was created because of how complicated Microsoft's PDT is. The PDT is a very powerful tool that is solid when it is set up correctly, but it is not very forgiving for problems and can be difficult to troubleshoot. Another issue with the PDT is it is not very extendable. It is hard to add customizations to make the environment your own.

I decided to make these functions to fix the issues above. A lot of the code (creating the unattend and mounting the drive) was taken from the PDT, so thank you for that Microsoft!

PDT: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/PowerShell-Deployment-f20bb605

This is designed to do much less than the PDT, but enable you to do more. The script will create a domain controller VM and then other VMs based on an XML file. It will copy over folders to the root of C on the VMs so needed media can be added to the server, and then can run a script when the computer boots up that will do whatever you want. All servers created will have PS remoting enabled and the firewalls off, so this will help set up remote servers.

Feel free to contribute to this product with any install scripts you create

USAGE: Create-EphingLab -LabXML 'D:\HomeLab.XML'

Features:

Creates VMs based on XML file

Automatically creates one domain controller

Copies folders to the root of C of VMs created

Runs scripts at startup of the VM

Domain joins all VMs to the domain specified in the XML file

Sample scripts to install ConfigMgr and Service Manager work now.

To Do:

1. Enable customizations to the DC when it is created

2. Finish install scripts for common products (SCORCH, SCOM, Exchange, SQL, etc...)

3. Add checks to make sure all information needed is given

4. Add help parameters

5. Create additional drives based on the XML