Module 1: Prerequisites

This module makes sure your computer can handle the lab and gathers the software you need. Nothing requires a purchase to complete the lab, and all downloads come directly from the official vendors. The Windows downloads are time-limited evaluations.

In This Module

• Check that your computer meets the hardware requirements (CPU, RAM, disk space)
• Enable virtualization in your BIOS/UEFI if needed
• Download VirtualBox
• Download the Windows Server 2025 evaluation ISO
• Download the Windows 11 Enterprise evaluation ISO

Why VirtualBox?

This guide uses the VirtualBox base package because it is free and open source under GPL version 3, requires no account to download, runs on Windows, Linux, and Intel-based Macs, and makes it easy to enable the TPM 2.0 chip that Windows 11 requires. Other hypervisors exist (VMware Workstation, Hyper-V, and more), but they are beyond the scope of this tutorial.

Hardware Requirements

The lab runs two virtual machines at the same time: a Windows Server domain controller and a Windows 11 client. Your computer (the “host”) needs enough resources to run both VMs plus its own operating system.

CPU

You need a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor with hardware virtualization support. Intel calls this feature VT-x and AMD calls it AMD-V. The processor must also meet the Windows 11 requirements, so virtualization support alone does not guarantee that an older system will qualify.

Caution

Apple Silicon Macs with M-series processors are outside the scope of this guide. The VM settings and downloads used here target x64 Windows on Intel or AMD hosts. Do not substitute ARM64 images and expect every step to match. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you can follow along.

RAM

16 GB is recommended. That covers the domain controller (4 GB), a Windows 11 client (4 GB), and leaves 8 GB for your host operating system.

8 GB is the absolute minimum, and it will be rough. The lab is still doable, but expect everything to be slow. Close every other program while the lab runs, be prepared to run one VM at a time for some tasks, and shut down each VM cleanly when you finish using it. If it feels painful, that is the hardware, not you.

Disk Space

You need at least 100 GB of free disk space, since each VM stores its hard drive as a large file on your computer. The clean-build snapshots and optional second client in Module 9 require additional space. An SSD is strongly recommended; a spinning hard drive works but will be noticeably slower. To check free space on Windows, open File Explorer and click This PC.

Enable Virtualization in BIOS/UEFI

Hardware virtualization is sometimes turned off from the factory. Check whether it is enabled before installing anything:

1. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Performance tab, then click CPU.
3. Look for the line that says Virtualization. If it says Enabled, you are done with this step. Skip ahead to the downloads.

If it says Disabled, you need to turn it on in your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings:

1. Restart your computer and press the setup key while it boots. The key varies by manufacturer. Common ones are Delete, F2, F10, and F12. The boot screen usually shows which key to press, or you can search the web for your computer model plus “BIOS key”.
2. Find the virtualization setting. It is usually under a menu named Advanced, CPU Configuration, or Security. Look for Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or SVM Mode.
3. Set it to Enabled, then save and exit (usually F10).
4. Boot back into Windows and check Task Manager again to confirm it now says Enabled.

Note

Every BIOS looks different. If you cannot find the setting, search the web for your computer or motherboard model plus “enable virtualization”. This is a very common task and there are guides for nearly every model.

Download VirtualBox

1. Go to the official site: virtualbox.org
2. Click Downloads and choose the package for your host operating system (Windows, Linux, or macOS on Intel).
3. Save the installer. Do not run it yet. Installation is covered in Module 2.

Download VirtualBox only from virtualbox.org. Third-party download sites sometimes bundle unwanted software.

Download Windows Server 2025

Microsoft provides a free, full-featured 180-day evaluation of Windows Server 2025. It is time-limited, and the appendix covers extending the trial.

1. Go to the Windows Server 2025 page on the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
2. Under the ISO download option, click Download the ISO.
3. Fill out the registration form. Microsoft asks for a name, email, and company. This is a marketing form, not a license check. Use an email you can access.
4. Choose English (United States) and the 64-bit edition ISO.
5. Save the file. It is large, roughly 5 to 6 GB, so the download may take a while.

Note

The evaluation ISO includes both the Standard and Datacenter editions. You will pick an edition during installation in Module 3, so you only need this one file.

Download Windows 11 Enterprise

Microsoft also provides a free 90-day evaluation of Windows 11 Enterprise for the client machines.

1. Go to the Windows 11 Enterprise page on the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
2. Select the ISO download option and fill out the same style of registration form.
3. Choose English (United States) and the x64 ISO, not the ARM64 ISO.
4. Save the file. It is also several GB.

Note

Why Enterprise and not Home or Pro? The Enterprise evaluation is free, does not require a product key, and supports joining an Active Directory domain, which is the whole point of this lab. Windows 11 Home cannot join a domain at all.

Further Learning

These optional references provide more detail than you need to complete the module:

• About Oracle VirtualBox explains the host, guest, virtual machine, and hypervisor concepts used throughout this guide.
• Enable Virtualization on Windows explains how to enter UEFI from Windows and links to manufacturer-specific virtualization instructions.
• Microsoft Learn: Hardware requirements for Windows Server lists the official CPU, memory, storage, and network minimums for Windows Server 2025.
• Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 requirements includes the requirements for virtual machines, including two virtual processors, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, Secure Boot, and virtual TPM.

Checklist Before Moving On

• CPU virtualization shows Enabled in Task Manager
• At least 100 GB of free disk space
• VirtualBox installer downloaded
• Windows Server 2025 evaluation ISO downloaded
• Windows 11 Enterprise x64 evaluation ISO downloaded

Once all five boxes are checked, continue to Module 2 to install VirtualBox and build the lab network.