Windows Server and Active Directory Home Lab

Personal home lab

Using virtual Windows Server and desktop environments to practise Active Directory administration, workstation domain joining, permissions and common support tasks.

Overview

I built a virtual Windows Server and Windows desktop lab to practise tasks found in an IT support environment. It gave me a place to explore domain administration, user accounts, access permissions and workstation configuration.

Environment

I initially used Oracle VM VirtualBox. I later began recreating the environment in VMware Workstation, including installing a Windows 11 client.

The original lab used a domain controller named DC01 and the domain lab.local.

Practical work

• Setting up a Windows Server Active Directory domain.
• Joining Windows workstations to the domain.
• Creating and managing users, security groups and organisational units.
• Practising password resets, account unlocking and access administration.
• Configuring shared folders, NTFS permissions and group-based access.
• Working with Group Policy and mapped network drives.
• Practising DNS resolution, IP addressing and connectivity troubleshooting.

What I learned

The lab helped me understand how user accounts, computers, permissions and policies fit together in a Windows domain. It also gave me practical experience with support tasks such as resetting passwords, unlocking accounts and investigating access or connectivity problems.

Relevance to IT support

This project supports my move into IT support by giving me practical familiarity with Windows administration and common account and access tasks.