Spin up your own mini enterprise IT environment — all from a single machine.
This beginner-friendly lab walks you through installing and configuring Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, and more using VMware Workstation Pro. No prior Virtual Machine or Active Directory experience needed.
- 🖥️ Two virtual machines:
DC01: Windows Server 2019 domain controllerCLIENT01: Windows 10 or 11 workstation
- 🌐 Networking using VMware NAT + Host-Only adapters
- 🧱 Domain setup with
corp.local - 🔐 Active Directory user and group management
- 🧠 Group Policy walkthroughs
- Minimum: 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
- At least 100GB of free disk space
- 🧠 Basic familiarity with Windows and networking settings
This project is divided into two parts:
🚧 Set up your lab environment from scratch using VMware Workstation Pro.
💡 Practice managing users, groups, OUs, and GPOs!
This lab is built for learners who:
- 👨💻 Want hands-on practice with a real Windows domain setup
- 🙅♀️ Are tired of vague instructions and confusing jargon
- 🎯 Are prepping for certs or interviews and need real-world context
Included throughout both the Lab Setup Guide and the Active Directory Tasks Walkthrough — no guesswork required.
If this project helps you out:
- ⭐ Star this repo
- 🔧 Suggest improvements or ask questions via issues
- ☕ Buy me a coffee
- 📺 Subscribe on YouTube
Got a question or hit a snag?
- 💬 Open an issue
- 📧 Email: learnbuilddeploylabs@gmail.com
This project was created by Rob Merrill, an aspiring cybersecurity professional documenting hands-on labs to help others learn by doing.
- 🎓 Career-changer with a passion for IT and cybersecurity
- 📺 Creator of Learn. Build. Deploy.
- 🧰 Always building — always sharing
Cheers, and happy labbing! 🥃