Active Directory and Domain Controller Lab

Overview

• This repository contains documentation and scripts for setting up a home lab with an Active Directory (AD) and Domain Controller (DC) using Windows Server 2019 on VirtualBox. The lab aims to simulate a corporate network environment, including the creation of 1000 users (via a powershell script) and connectivity with a Windows 10 client.

• Here is an overview and a visualization of the Lab

Lab Setup

Step 1: Virtual Machine Creation

1. Created a VM on VirtualBox using the Server 2019 ISO.
2. Configured the network by adding a second adapter attached to an Internal Network, assigning it an IP address.

Step 2: Active Directory and Domain Controller Setup

3. Installed AD and created a domain, completing the deployment configuration by adding a new forest.
4. Created a dedicated domain admin account during the setup.

Step 3: Routing and NAT Configuration

5. Configured RAS/NAT via the Server Manager on the admin profile.
6. Added Routing as a role service and enabled NAT on the Routing and Remote Access Server Setup Wizard.

Step 4: DHCP Server Setup

7. Set up a DHCP server on the domain controller to allow Windows 10 clients to get IP addresses for internet access.

8. Used the internal NIC as the default gateway (router).

Step 5: User Account Creation

9. Turned off Execution Policy in PowerShell to run a script.

10. Used a PowerShell script to add 1000 users to the domain.

Step 6: Windows 10 Client Configuration

11. Created a new VM with Windows 10 ISO, attaching the network adapter to the Internal Network.

12. Selected Windows 10 Pro to connect to the domain.

Verification and Testing

13. Checked internet connectivity from the client VM using ping to www.google.com and the domain (mydomain.com), and also seeing whether the Default Gateway matches with the internal NIC used as the Router previously in Step 4.

14. Verified DHCP leases on the domain controller for the client VM.

15. Explored Active Directory to see the list of computers in the domain.

16. Confirmed successful domain login using a sample user account (e.g., tbasilio).

Conclusion

This project successfully creates a simulated corporate network with Active Directory and a Domain Controller. The script automates the process of adding 1000 users, and the Windows 10 client seamlessly connects to the domain, showcasing a functional mini corporate environment.