Skip to content
AD DS Homelab Guide

Module 3: Build the Server (DC01)

In this module you create your first VM and install Windows Server 2025 on it. By the end, you will have a fully patched server named DC01 with a static IP address, ready to become a domain controller in Module 4.

In This Module

Section titled “In This Module”
  • Create the DC01 virtual machine (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 60 GB dynamic disk)
  • Install Windows Server 2025 with Desktop Experience
  • Install VirtualBox Guest Additions
  • Rename the computer to DC01
  • Assign a static IP address
  • Activate the Windows Server evaluation
  • Run Windows Update
  • Take the DC01 clean-build snapshot

Create the Virtual Machine

Section titled “Create the Virtual Machine”
  1. In VirtualBox Manager, click New.
  2. Fill in the first screen:
    • Name: DC01
    • ISO Image: browse to the Windows Server 2025 ISO from Module 1
    • Choose a manual installation. Depending on your VirtualBox version, either check Skip Unattended Installation or clear Install OS Using Unattended Installation. This prevents VirtualBox from selecting important Windows setup options for you.
  3. Expand the Hardware section:
    • Base Memory: 4096 MB. This is fine even on an 8 GB host while DC01 is the only VM running. When a client VM runs alongside it in later modules, you will temporarily reduce DC01 to 2048 MB; those modules include a reminder.
    • Processors: 2
    • Check Enable EFI
  4. Expand the Hard Disk section and set the size to 60 GB. Leave it as a dynamically allocated VDI, which means the file starts small and grows as the VM uses space.
  5. Click Finish. Do not start the VM yet.
  6. Open Settings > Display > Screen and move the Video Memory slider to the maximum. This gives the Windows desktop more display memory and can make the interface feel smoother.

Attach It to the Lab Network

Section titled “Attach It to the Lab Network”
  1. Select DC01 and click Settings > Network.
  2. On Adapter 1, set Attached to: NAT Network and Name: ADLab.
  3. Click OK.

Install Windows Server 2025

Section titled “Install Windows Server 2025”
  1. Start the VM. When you see “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD”, click inside the VM window and press a key quickly. If you miss it, close the VM (Power off) and start it again.
  2. Choose your language and keyboard settings.
  3. Continue with Install Windows Server. On an older setup screen, this button may be labeled Install Now. If setup asks you to confirm that files, apps, and settings will be deleted, select the confirmation. This VM’s new virtual disk is empty.
  4. When asked to select an image, choose Windows Server 2025 Standard Evaluation (Desktop Experience). The Desktop Experience part is essential for this guide because it installs the graphical interface and management tools used in later modules.
  5. Accept the license terms. If setup asks which installation type you want, choose Custom.
  6. Select the empty 60 GB drive and continue with the installation. Installation may be noticeably slower on an 8 GB host.
  7. When prompted, set a password for the built-in Administrator account and store it securely. This guide uses that account for administrative work on DC01.

To log in, Windows asks for Ctrl+Alt+Del, but that key combo goes to your host instead of the VM. Use the VM window menu: Input > Keyboard > Insert Ctrl-Alt-Del.

Install Guest Additions

Section titled “Install Guest Additions”

Guest Additions makes the VM much nicer to use: the screen resizes with the window and the mouse moves smoothly.

  1. With DC01 running and logged in, use the VM window menu: Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image.
  2. Inside the VM, open File Explorer, open the CD drive, and run VBoxWindowsAdditions.
  3. Click through the installer with the defaults and reboot when asked.

Rename the Computer to DC01

Section titled “Rename the Computer to DC01”

Windows picked a random name during install. Give it a real one:

  1. Right-click the Start button and choose System.
  2. Click Rename this PC.
  3. Enter DC01, click Next, then restart.

Assign a Static IP Address

Section titled “Assign a Static IP Address”

Servers that provide network services need an address that never changes. DC01 will be your DNS and DHCP server, so every other machine in the lab has to know exactly where to find it.

  1. Right-click the Start button and choose Network Connections.
  2. Click Ethernet, then under IP assignment click Edit.
  3. Change from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual, turn on IPv4, and enter:
    • IP address: 10.0.10.10
    • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 (if asked for prefix length instead, enter 24)
    • Gateway: 10.0.10.1
    • Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
  4. Click Save.

The preferred DNS address is Google Public DNS and is temporary. When DC01 becomes a domain controller in Module 4, its network adapter will use DC01 itself for DNS.

To confirm the address, DNS, and outbound connectivity, open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig
ping google.com

ipconfig should show 10.0.10.10 as the IPv4 address, and ping should return replies. If it does not, recheck the static IP settings and confirm that Adapter 1 is attached to the ADLab NAT Network.

Activate the Evaluation

Section titled “Activate the Evaluation”

Windows Server 2025 Evaluation lasts for 180 days, but Microsoft requires online activation within the first 10 days to avoid automatic shutdown. Now that DC01 has internet access, activate it explicitly instead of assuming automatic activation completed.

  1. Search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Request online activation:
Terminal window
slmgr.vbs /ato
  1. After Windows reports successful activation, display the evaluation expiration date:
Terminal window
slmgr.vbs /xpr

The evaluation-license appendix explains how to check the remaining time later and how to use Microsoft’s supported rearm process when the evaluation period is nearly over.

Run Windows Update

Section titled “Run Windows Update”
  1. Open Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
  2. Install everything, reboot when asked, and check again. Repeat until no updates remain.

This may require several download, installation, and restart cycles, especially on slower hardware. Continue checking until Windows reports that the server is up to date.

Take the DC01 Clean-Build Snapshot

Section titled “Take the DC01 Clean-Build Snapshot”

This is the only snapshot this guide creates for DC01. It saves a clean, updated server before it becomes a domain controller.

  1. Shut down DC01 from inside Windows (Start > Power > Shut down).
  2. In VirtualBox Manager, select DC01 and open Snapshots. Depending on the Manager layout, this may appear as a tool or in the menu next to the VM.
  3. Click Take and name it Clean install - before AD DS.

Keep this snapshot as a start-over point. After promoting DC01 in Module 4, correct later configuration mistakes instead of rolling the domain back. If DC01 becomes unusable, this checkpoint lets you rebuild the lab without reinstalling Windows. The Snapshot Strategy appendix explains the full rule.

Further Learning

Section titled “Further Learning”

These optional references provide more detail from the organizations that maintain VirtualBox and Windows Server:

Checklist Before Moving On

Section titled “Checklist Before Moving On”
  • DC01 boots to a Windows Server 2025 desktop
  • Guest Additions installed (window resizing works)
  • Computer name is DC01
  • ipconfig shows 10.0.10.10 and ping google.com returns replies
  • Windows Server evaluation is activated
  • Windows Update shows no remaining updates
  • Clean install - before AD DS snapshot taken

Continue to Module 4 to install Active Directory and promote DC01 to a domain controller.