8 Create a Windows Server

Windows Server is a popular server that offers many functions for businesses to control their enterprise network.  It is not a singular operating system, but rather a group of operating systems that can be used in a variety of ways.  This lab’s focus is on installing Windows Server for the first time with the most common features.

Learning Objectives

• Using an image of Windows Server, install and configure Windows Server as a virtual machine in the GNS3 workspace

Prerequisites

• VirtualBox installed
• GNS3 Workspace Installed

Deliverables

• None – this is a preparatory lab that supports other labs in this book

Resources

• Most students at colleges and high schools can download Windows Server (with a license key) through Azure for Education.  Ask your instructor for details or a copy of the Windows Server iso file.
• Some testers have used the Windows Server Evaluation copy available here.  If you use an evaluation copy, ignore references to product keys.
• NOTE: Each source will referenced with its corresponding number in superscript (EX: ¹  ) at the end of a step 
• 1. MSFT WebCast. “How to Install Windows Server 2019 in VirtualBox (STEP by Step Guide).” YouTube, January 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjQSuyuN0nA&list=PLUZTRmXEpBy32NP6z_qvVBOTWUzdTZVHt.
• 2. MSFT WebCast. “Basic Configuration Tasks in Windows Server 2019.” YouTube, January 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nxYJSV7-u8&list=PLUZTRmXEpBy32NP6z_qvVBOTWUzdTZVHt&index=3.
• 3. MSFT WebCast. “Setting up Active Directory in Windows Server 2019 (Step by Step Guide).” YouTube, January 28, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3sxduUt5a8&list=PLUZTRmXEpBy32NP6z_qvVBOTWUzdTZVHt&index=5.

Contributors and testers

• Julian Romano, Student, ERAU Prescott
• Evan Paddock, Cybersecurity Student, ERAU-Prescott
• Dante Rocca, Cybersecurity Student, ERAU-Prescott

1. Open Virtual Box Manager
2. Select New from the top ribbon to open the “Create Virtual Machine” window (Figure 1) ¹
   1. Name the VM “Windows Server”  ¹
   2. Use the ISO Image drop-down box to select the iso image for Windows Server that you have downloaded
   3. Click the box that states Skip Unattended Installation
   4. Press Next
   5. Use the default hardware settings (Figure 2)
   6. Press Next
   7. Use the default Virtual Hard disk settings (Figure 3)
   8. Press Next
   9. Review the Summary and press Finish (Figure 4)
3. Start the Windows Server VM by pressing the big green arrow on VirtualBox Manager to start the setup process
   1. On the setup screen, use the defaults and press Next (Figure 5) ¹
   2. Click Install now (Figure 6) ¹
   3. Enter your product key (Figure 7) and press next
   4. Select the desktop experience (Figure 8) and press next
   5. Read and accept the license terms (Figure 9) and press next ¹
   6. Click on Custom Install (Figure 10) ¹
   7. Leave the defaults (Figure 11) and press Next
   8. Wait for the installation to finish (Figure 12) and restart
   9. At the Password Screen, set the password to “Security1” and press Finish (Figure 13) ¹
   10. If your Host OS reacts to the pressing of Ctrl-Alt-Delete instead of the VM, press your Host Key (right ctrl by default) and delete simultaneously to get to the Windows Server login screen on your VM
   11. Log into the Windows Server using the administrator credentials (Figure 14)
   12. At the first start-up, you will get two popups (Figure 15)
       1. Server Manager – Click on Don’t show this message again
       2. Networks – Click Yes
   13. This brings you to the Server Manager Dashboard (Figure 16)

1. The Server Management Dashboard should open automatically on Windows Server startup (Figure 16)
2. On the left side of the dashboard, click on Local Server (Figure 17) and give it a couple of seconds to populate the information ³
3. Click on Manage in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Once the drop-down appears click on the Add Roles and Features option shown (Figure 18) ³
4. An “Add Roles and Features Wizard” box will open
   1. Before you begin – Click next (Figure 19) ³
   2. Installation Type – click the Role-Based option – click next (Figure 20) ³
   3. Server Selection – click on your local server (Should be the only option) – click next (Figure 21) ³
   4. Server Roles – select Active Directory Domain Services which will automatically open a pop-up window (Figure 22) where you will press the Add Features button ³
   5. Returns you back to the Select Server Roles (Figure 23) and you can see that the Active Directory Services option now has a checkmark next to it
   6. Select DNS Server from the list of options which will open a pop-up Window (Figure 24) where you will press the Add Features button ³

      NOTE: You may get an alert.  This is normal because we haven’t finished configuring everything.  Just press “Continue”

   7. Returns you back to the Select Server Roles (Figure 25) and you can see that the DNS Server has a checkmark next to it – Click Next ³
   8. Features (Figure 26) – Click Next ³
   9. AD DS  (Figure 27) – Click Next ³
   10. DNS Server (Figure 28) – Click Next ³
   11. Confirmation (Figure 29) – Click Install ³
   12. Wait for the installation to complete (Figure 30)
   13. Click on the blue text that states, Promote this server to a domain controller. (Figure 31) and you will get a popup ³
5.  Configure Active Directory Domain Services Wizard
   1. Deployment Configuration (Figure 32)
      1. Click on Add a new forest ³
      2. Root domain name:  pick something you would like.  For these examples “mycyber.local” was chosen ³
      3. Click Next

         NOTE: Creating a new forest can take a minute or two.

   2. Domain Controller Options- select a password for the DSRM – we typically use “Security1” in this book (Figure 33) – Click Next ³
   3. DNS Options (Figure 34) – Ignore the alert if there is one and Click Next (Figure 34) ³
   4. Additional Options – It takes a moment to auto-populate with MYCYBER, but if it doesn’t type it in.  Then Click Next (Figure 35)
   5. Paths – Click Next (Figure 36) ³
   6. Review Options – Click Next (Figure 37) ³
   7. Prerequisites Check – (this could take a minute for a green box to appear – Ignore the alerts) Click Install (Figure 38) ³
   8. The Server VM will automatically restart (Figure 39), just wait for it to finish

1. Follow the procedures for adding a VM to GNS3
2. You may want to make some changes to the default settings

• • Change the image to look more like a server instead of a PC
  • Change the network options to Allow GNS3 to use any configured VirtualBox adapter

End of Lab

List of Figures for Printed Version