Active Directory Lab Part III: Create the Virtual Machines

Overview

This post is part of a series illustrating how to automate the process of deploying an AD Lab. This article details how to create the required Hyper-V virtual machines.

You can use our automation script, OZO AD Lab Create VMs to perform these steps with a single command!

Create the Virtual Machines

Use these steps to create four virtual machines. Open Hyper-V Manager and click New > Virtual Machine:

Specify Name and Location

VM	Name
Router	AD Lab 01 router.contoso.com
DC	AD Lab 02 dc.contoso.com
Server	AD Lab 03 server.contoso.com
Client	AD Lab 04 client.contoso.com

Specify Generation

All VMS: select Generation 2.

Assign Memory

VM	Startup memory
Router	1024
DC	2048
Server	2048
Client	4096

Configure Networking

VM	Connection
Router	AD Lab External
DC	AD Lab Private
Server	AD Lab Private
Client	AD Lab Private

Connect Virtual Hard Disk

All VMs: accept the default Name and Location, and set size as follows:

VM	Size
Router	64
DC	128
Server	128
Client	128

Installation Options

VM	option	Image file (.iso)
Router	Install an operating system from a bootable image file	`Downloads\OZO-AD-Lab-Router.iso`
DC	Install an operating system from a bootable image file	`Downloads\OZO-AD-Lab-DC.iso`
Server	Install an operating system from a bootable image file	`Downloads\OZO-AD-Lab-Server.iso`
Client	Install an operating system from a bootable image file	`Downloads\OZO-AD-Lab-Client.iso`

Edit the Hyper-V Virtual Machine Settings

Use these steps to edit the virtual machines. Open Hyper-V Manager, select a VM, and click Settings:

Security

VM	Template	Enable TPM
Router	Microsoft UEFI Certificate Authority	No
DC	Microsoft Windows	Yes
Server	Microsoft Windows	Yes
Client	Microsoft Windows	Yes

Memory

VM	Maximum RAM	Memory buffer
Router	1024	5%
DC	2048	5%
Server	2048	5%
Client	4096	5%

Integration Services

All VMs: check Guest services.

Checkpoints

All VMs: uncheck Enable checkpoints.

Automatic Start Action

All VMs: select Nothing.

Automatic Stop Action

All VMs: Select Shut down the guest operating system.

Additional Steps for the Linux Router VM

In Hyper-V Manager, select AD Lab 01 router.contoso.com and edit settings.
Click Add Hardware, select Network Adapter, click Add, and set Virtual switch to AD Lab Private.
Click Security and in the Template drop-down, choose Microsoft UEFI Certificate Authority.