Alex Madden | Projects

Alex Madden

IT Technician in transition • Problem solver

🧠 Project: Active Directory Domain Controller Setup (Home Lab)

This project simulates a real-world Windows Server environment where I configured a Domain Controller using Windows Server 2022 and began building an enterprise-like Active Directory setup from scratch.

🎥 Walkthrough Video

Watch a full walkthrough of the AD lab below:

🛠️ Step 1: Server 2022 VM Prep

Created a Windows Server 2022 VM in VirtualBox
Fully updated the OS using Windows Update
Renamed the server to AD-LAB

Set a static IP address:
- IP: 192.168.68.50
- Subnet: 255.255.255.0
- Gateway: 192.168.68.1
- DNS: 8.8.8.8

⚙️ Step 2: Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

Installed AD DS via Server Manager → Add roles and features
Promoted the server to a Domain Controller
Created new forest: AD-LAB.local
Set DSRM password and documented it securely
Restarted the server after promotion

🌐 Step 3: DNS Configuration

Confirmed DNS role was installed with AD DS
Opened DNS Manager → Forwarders
Configured external DNS forwarders:
- 8.8.8.8 (Google)
- 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
Verified internet access using ping/nslookup

👥 Step 4: Create OUs and User Accounts

Used Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)
Created Organizational Units:
- IT
- HR
- Sales
Created users and assigned to OUs:
- ajones (IT)
- hwatts (HR)
- psmith (Sales)
Set secure passwords, changed password age to 90 days, and added descriptions

🖥️ Step 5: Set Up Windows 11 Client VM

Created a Windows 11 Pro VM in VirtualBox
Set the VM's network to the same Internal Network as the Server
Configured DNS:
- DNS: 192.168.68.50 (the AD server)
Renamed client to W11-CLIENT

Joined the machine to the domain AD-LAB.local using domain credentials

Restarted and logged in as domain user ajones

🔒 Step 6: Group Policy Objects (GPOs)

Opened Group Policy Management on Server
Created and linked GPOs to each OU:
- IT GPO: Mapped network drive Z: to \\ad-lab\ITShared
- IT GPO: Set a custom wallpaper for IT users
Placed wallpaper BMP in shared folder on the server: C:thispc\ITShared\wallpapers\it.bmp

Confirmed domain users in the appropriate OUs received the settings on login