UsingAutomatedLab

Following is how I set up my Active Directory Lab (one domain controller and one member server) in under 30 minutes with just a few lines of PowerShell code using the wonderful AutomatedLab module.

1. Ensure you have Hyper-V set up on the host.
   Install necessitates a reboot.

2. Install the PowerShell module.
   Perform all of the steps in an elevated session.
   

Find-Module AutomatedLab | Install-Module

3. Create and populate a new labsources folder

 New-LabSourcesFolder

This creates the necessary folder structure.

4. Copy your ISO files to the ISO directory (C:\LabSources\ISOs)
   I had issues with evaluation editions of the Operating Systems.

5. Verify the ISOs (pay attention to the OperatingSystemName, you will use them shortly)

Get-LabAvailableOperatingSystem

6. Create a lab definition

New-LabDefinition -Name ADTestLab -DefaultVirtualizationEngine HyperV

This does quite a few things including pulling in the SysInternals suite

7. Add machines to our Lab Definition

$DomainController = @{
    Name            = 'DC01'
    Memory          = '1GB'
    OperatingSystem = 'Windows Server 2022 Standard (Desktop Experience)'
    Roles           = 'RootDC'
    DomainName      = 'FatBeard.com'
}
Add-LabMachineDefinition @DomainController

$server = @{
    Name            = 'Server01'
    Memory          = '1GB'
    OperatingSystem = 'Windows Server 2022 Standard (Desktop Experience)'
    DomainName      = 'FatBeard.com'
}
Add-LabMachineDefinition @Server

8. Create the lab!

Install-Lab
# Take a break, you deserve it! Plus this takes a few minutes.

9. You can get a high-level summary of what was created
   The default credentials are Administrator/Somepass1.

Show-LabDeploymentSummary -Detailed

10. Open Hyper-V to verify

11. Want to connect to a machine from the commandline?

Connect-LabVM DC01

12. Want to delete the lab?

Remove-Lab -Name <Name of Lab>