Active Directory Project: Home Lab 2024

Summary

Active Directory (AD) is a Microsoft directory service designed to centralize the management of network resources across defined domains. It stores information about users, computers, and other network objects in a structured database, making it easier for administrators to manage and secure their network.

This lab provides snapshot of processes for setting up a virtual lab environment using VirtualBox, installing Windows Server and Windows 10, configuring a domain network, installing Active Directory, joining domain devices, Working with Powershell, and more.

Key Components of AD that we focus on:

• Domain

  • A group of objects (users, computers, devices, etc) sharing the same AD Database (DB).

• Domain Controller (DC)

  • A Server that hosts AD and handles authentication behaviors.

• Organizational Units (OU)

  • Containers which hold domain objects (users, groups, computers). OUs are helpful for managing and organizing domain objects.

• Users & Groups

  • Represents Accounts (Or personnel) and groups refer to a collection of users and devices managed by at least one (preferable) entity. We will demonstrate how to create users and groups and apply certain permissions to various groups

• Group Policy

  • Enforcement of various settings (Security, software installation, system configuration) for different groups and users.

Pre-Requisites

• Networking Fundamentals
• Virtualization
• Windows Server
• Computer and Basic Troubleshooting skills

File Structure

1. Setup

   • Setting up the Virtual Environment along with other Virtual Machines

2. Network

   • Configuring Virtual Network Cards
   • Configuring IP Address Information
   • Configuring Network Adapters

3. Active Directory

   • Installing Active Directory
   • Configuring Active Directory
   • Deploy Active Directory

4. Organizational Units

   • Creating an Organizational Unit
   • Configure OU Management

5. Domain Users

   • Getting Started with Powershell
   • Creating Users with Powershell
   • Creating OU with Powershell
   • Working with Environment Variables within Powershell
   • Add a user to a OU
   • Enforce password change on logon for a user

6. Join Domain

   • Add Adapter 2 to Client Machine
   • Configure client machine using Powershell
   • Configure Networks for the client machine
   • Join the client machine to a domain

7. Security

   • Configure Password security with Powershell.

Get Started

Setup!