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Project Summary

Project Overview

This project demonstrates the deployment of a fully functional Active Directory environment using Windows Server 2022 and Windows 11 within a virtualized lab environment.

The objective of this project was to gain practical experience with enterprise system administration tasks commonly performed by Help Desk Technicians, Desktop Support Technicians, and Junior Systems Administrators.

Environment Information

Component Value
Domain Controller DC01
Client Workstation CLIENT01
Domain Name adlab.local
Network Type VMnet1 Host-Only
DC01 IP Address 192.168.66.10
CLIENT01 IP Address 192.168.66.20
Hypervisor VMware Workstation Pro

Network Architecture

The lab environment uses a VMware Host-Only network to provide isolated communication between the Windows Server 2022 Domain Controller and Windows 11 domain client.

Active Directory Lab Network Diagram

Project Objectives

  • Deploy Windows Server 2022
  • Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
  • Configure DNS
  • Create Organizational Units (OUs)
  • Create Security Groups
  • Create and manage domain users
  • Deploy a Windows 11 client
  • Join the client to the domain
  • Verify domain authentication
  • Document the deployment and troubleshooting process

Completed Work

Infrastructure Deployment

  • Installed Windows Server 2022
  • Renamed server to DC01
  • Configured static networking
  • Installed VMware Tools
  • Configured Host-Only networking

Active Directory Deployment

  • Installed Active Directory Domain Services
  • Promoted server to Domain Controller
  • Configured DNS Server
  • Verified Domain Controller health using DCDIAG
  • Verified DNS functionality

Active Directory Administration

Created Organizational Units:

Company
├── Users
├── Groups
├── Computers
├── Servers
└── Service Accounts

Created Security Groups:

IT_Admins
HelpDesk
HR
Sales

Created Test Users:

  • John Smith (jsmith)
  • Sarah Brown (sbrown)
  • Emily Davis (edavis)
  • Mike Wilson (mwilson)

Added users to appropriate security groups.

Client Deployment

  • Installed Windows 11
  • Configured static networking
  • Renamed workstation to CLIENT01
  • Joined CLIENT01 to adlab.local
  • Verified DNS resolution
  • Verified domain authentication
  • Verified communication with Domain Controller

Validation Performed

The following validation tests were successfully completed:

ipconfig /all

nslookup adlab.local

ping 192.168.66.10

dcdiag /v

Additional validation:

  • Active Directory Users and Computers accessible
  • DNS service operational
  • SYSVOL replication healthy
  • Domain login successful
  • CLIENT01 visible within Active Directory

Skills Demonstrated

Windows Server Administration

  • Server installation and configuration
  • Domain Controller deployment
  • DNS configuration

Active Directory Administration

  • Organizational Unit management
  • User administration
  • Security group administration
  • Domain joining

Networking

  • Static IP configuration
  • DNS troubleshooting
  • Virtual networking
  • Network connectivity validation

Troubleshooting

  • VMware networking issues
  • DNS resolution problems
  • Domain join troubleshooting
  • Service validation

Documentation and Version Control

  • Technical documentation
  • Screenshot collection
  • Git and GitHub version control
  • Project organization and repository management

Lessons Learned

  • DNS is critical to Active Directory functionality.
  • Domain Controllers should always use static IP addressing.
  • Proper virtual network configuration is essential for domain communication.
  • PowerShell significantly simplifies system administration tasks.
  • Thorough documentation makes troubleshooting and future administration easier.

Final Status

✅ Active Directory deployment completed successfully.

This repository serves as the baseline Active Directory environment for future projects involving:

  • IT Help Desk Administration
  • Group Policy Management
  • PowerShell Automation
  • File Server Administration
  • Advanced Windows Server Administration

Repository Purpose

This repository demonstrates the ability to:

  • Build an Active Directory environment from scratch.
  • Configure and validate enterprise services.
  • Document technical implementations.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve infrastructure issues.
  • Maintain a professional project repository suitable for portfolio and resume use.

Supporting Documentation

Detailed implementation, administration, troubleshooting, and validation documentation is available throughout the repository: