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💻 VirtualBox VM Lab – Windows Client \u0026 Server Administration\n\nThis project showcases the complete setup, configuration, and administration of a **Windows 10/11 client environment** and a **Windows Server 2022 Active Directory domain**, all built and documented using **Oracle VirtualBox**.\n\nIt forms part of my **CompTIA A+ certification study**, hands-on technical development, and preparation for an **IT Support / Junior SysAdmin role**.\n\n---\n\n## 🌱 Project Overview\n\nThis lab simulates real-world IT Support and System Administration tasks in a controlled virtual environment.  \nIt covers:\n\n- Operating system installation (Windows client \u0026 server)  \n- Virtual hardware configuration  \n- System configuration \u0026 user management  \n- File system permissions  \n- Networking \u0026 DNS  \n- Active Directory Domain Services  \n- Group Policy management  \n- System maintenance \u0026 snapshots  \n- Troubleshooting and admin tools  \n\nAll work is fully documented with **screenshots**, organised into clearly structured sections.\n\n---\n\n## 🖥️ Virtual Machines Created\n\n### **🖼️ Windows Client VM — Windows 10 \u0026 Windows 11**\n\nThis project began with a Windows 10 VM (**Sections 0–3**) and was later rebuilt on Windows 11 (**Sections 4–7**) for improved performance and updated tools.\n\nAll tasks align with **CompTIA A+** and beginner **SysAdmin** objectives.\n\n---\n\n### **Windows 10 (Sections 0–3)**\n\n- Installed from Windows 10 Evaluation ISO  \n- Configured system restore point and local user accounts  \n- Practised file system \u0026 folder permissions  \n- Compared **Control Panel vs Settings**  \n- Explored Task Manager, Event Viewer, and built-in troubleshooting tools  \n\n---\n\n### **Windows 11 (Sections 4–7)**\n\n- Installed from clean Windows 11 Evaluation ISO  \n- Practised core networking commands (`ipconfig`, `ping`, `tracert`, `nslookup`)  \n- Used administrative tools:  \n  - Windows Update  \n  - Restore points  \n  - File History  \n  - Firewall  \n  - Defender  \n  - UAC  \n- Explored security basics and administrative utilities  \n\n📁 **Screenshots Folder:** `Windows_VM/Screenshots/`\n\nOrganised by section:\n\n- Section 0 – VM Setup  \n- Section 1 – User Accounts \u0026 Permissions  \n- Section 2 – File System \u0026 Extensions  \n- Section 3 – Control Panel vs Settings  \n- Section 4 – Networking Basics  \n- Section 5 – System Tools \u0026 Utilities  \n- Section 6 – Updates \u0026 Restore  \n- Section 7 – Security  \n\n---\n\n## 🏢 Windows Server 2022 VM — Active Directory Domain  \n(*Sections 8–14*)\n\nA full Windows Server 2022 domain environment was created to simulate real SysAdmin work.\n\n### 🛠️ Key Tasks Completed\n\n- Installed Windows Server 2022  \n- Performed server configuration (hostname, networking, time sync)  \n- Installed **Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)**  \n- Promoted server to a **Domain Controller**  \n- Created \u0026 managed **domain users and security groups**  \n- Built an **Organisational Unit (OU)** structure  \n- Created and applied **Group Policy Objects (GPOs)**  \n- Configured DNS for domain operations  \n- Performed system maintenance using **Disk Cleanup**  \n- Managed and documented VM snapshots for rollback protection  \n\n📁 **Screenshots Folder:** `Windows_Server/Screenshots/`\n\nOrganised by section:\n\n- Section 8 – Server Installation  \n- Section 9 – Server Configuration Basics  \n- Section 10 – AD DS Installation  \n- Section 11 – Domain Users \u0026 Groups  \n- Section 12 – OU Structure  \n- Section 13 – GPO Management  \n- Section 14 – Snapshots \u0026 Maintenance  \n\n---\n\n## 🧰 Tools \u0026 Technologies Used\n\n| Tool / Platform | Purpose |\n|-----------------|---------|\n| Oracle VirtualBox | Virtualisation platform for VMs |\n| Windows 10 / 11 ISOs | Client OS installation |\n| Windows Server 2022 ISO | Domain Controller installation |\n| PowerShell \u0026 CMD | Command-line practice \u0026 configuration |\n| Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) | GPO creation \u0026 management |\n| Snipping Tool / Screenshot Manager | Documentation \u0026 tracking |\n| GitHub | Version control \u0026 project presentation |\n\n---\n\n## 🎯 Current Learning Focus\n\n- Use Windows client \u0026 server lab to practise troubleshooting scenarios  \n- Continue studying for **CompTIA A+ (Core 1 \u0026 Core 2)**  \n- Apply admin skills to further practical labs  \n- Keep documenting milestones for LinkedIn and GitHub  \n\n---\n\n## 👤 Author\n\nCreated by **Cameron Young**\n\n🔗 [GitHub Profile](https://github.com/camo-za)  \n🔗 [LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronyoungit)  \n","project_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fcamo-za%2Fwindows-vm-lab","html_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/projects/github.com%2Fcamo-za%2Fwindows-vm-lab","lists_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fcamo-za%2Fwindows-vm-lab/lists"}