https://github.com/itsrubenclarke/ad-vm-deploy
This project involves deploying a virtual network in Microsoft Azure, setting up a Windows Server 2022 domain controller and a Windows 10 Pro client, configuring remote desktop connections, assigning a static private IP, disabling Windows Defender firewalls, and ensuring network connectivity through DNS configuration and PowerShell verification.
https://github.com/itsrubenclarke/ad-vm-deploy
active-directory powershell remote-desktop windows
Last synced: about 1 month ago
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This project involves deploying a virtual network in Microsoft Azure, setting up a Windows Server 2022 domain controller and a Windows 10 Pro client, configuring remote desktop connections, assigning a static private IP, disabling Windows Defender firewalls, and ensuring network connectivity through DNS configuration and PowerShell verification.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/itsrubenclarke/ad-vm-deploy
- Owner: itsrubenclarke
- Created: 2025-02-13T14:30:38.000Z (about 1 year ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-04-01T10:31:42.000Z (12 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-11-10T17:13:33.451Z (5 months ago)
- Topics: active-directory, powershell, remote-desktop, windows
- Homepage:
- Size: 35.2 KB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
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Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
Active Directory: Virtual Machine Deployment
This project is the first among a collection focused on implementing Azure and Active Directory.
The goal is to create a basic lab that mirrors a real working network environment, providing me with hands-on learning and practical experience with Microsoft Azure and Active Directory.
In this project, I will set up and establish a connection between two virtual machines using Windows Server 2022 and Windows Pro 10 in Microsoft Azure's Cloud environment.
Assign a static private IP, disable Windows Defender firewalls, and ensure network connectivity through DNS configuration and PowerShell verification
This will allow me to establish a Domain Controller and a Client.
Key Objectives
Virtual Machine Setup
- Configure and deploy Windows Client
- Configure and deploy Windows Domain Controller
Remote Connectivity
- Establish Remote Desktop Connection (RDP)
- Connect Client and Domain Controller Virtual Machines (VMs)
Environments and Technologies Used
- Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines, Networking)
- Windows App (Remote Desktop Protocol)
- PowerShell (Command-line Operations)
Operating Systems Used
| **Operating System** | **Role**
|----------------------------|------------------------|
| 
Windows (Windows 10 Pro) | Client VM |
| Windows (Server 2022) | Domain Controller (DC) |
Setup and Configuration of Virtual Network
Step 1: Create Resource Group
- Go to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Create a Resource Group
- Name it "Active-Directory-Lab" & Set the region to (Europe) UK South
Step 2: Create Virtual Network
- Go to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Create a Virtual Network
- Name it "Active-Directory-vnet" & Set the region to (Europe) UK South
- Add it to the "Active-Directory-Lab" Resource Group
Step 3: Setup Domain Controller
- Go to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Create a Virtual Machine
- Select the "Windows Server 2022" image
- Name it "dc-1" & Set the region to (Europe) UK South
- Ensure to select the resource group you just created "Active-Directory-Lab"
- Select a vm size with at least 2 vcpus
- Set a username and password
- Be sure to memorise your credentials or store in a secure place
- Add the Virtual Machine to the Virtual Network you previously created in step 2 "Active-Directory-vnet"
Step 4: Setup Client VM
- Go to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Create a Virtual Machine
- Select the "Windows 10 Pro" image
- Name it "client-1" & Set the region to (Europe) UK South
- Ensure to select the resource group you just created "Active-Directory-Lab"
- Select a vm size with at least 2 vcpus
- Set a username and password
- Be sure to memorise your credentials or store in a secure place
- Add the Virtual Machine to the Virtual Network you previously created in step 2 "Active-Directory-vnet"
- Tick the licensing request box
- Return to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Search for "Virtual Machines"
- Confirm both client-1 and dc-1 Virtual Machines are running
Step 5: Network Interface Configuration
- Go to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Select your "dc-1" Virtual Machine
- Open the Networking section and expand the Network Settings menu
- Open the configuration window
- Select "IP configurations"
- Select "ipconfig1"
- Edit the confgurations to change the Private IP address settings allocation from Dynamic to Static
- Edit the confgurations to change the Private IP address settings allocation from Dynamic to Static
Step 6: Establish Remote Desktop Connection
- Launch your Remote Desktop Connection Application
- Mac Users download Windows App Formerly known as "Microsoft Remote Desktop"
- Windows Users open and use Remote Desktop
- Select "Add PC"
- Enter the Public IP Address from your Domain Controller "172.187.161.247"
- Add a friendly name "dc-1"
- Choose "Add Credentials" from the drop down and enter the credentials you created earlier, noting to accept the security prompt and proceed
- You can now establish a remote connection to your virtual machine, by right-clicking the newly added device
- Accept the Certificate when prompted to do so
Step 7: Windows Defender & Firewall
- Now that you've established the remote connection, within your windows virtual machine (dc-1), open up the Run application and enter "wf.msc"
- This will open up "Windows Defender" from here you need to disable the following fireawall states:
- Domain Profile
- Private Profile
- Public Profile
Step 8: Configure client-1's DNS settings
- Go to [Portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com)
- Select your "client-1" Virtual Machine
- Open the Networking section and expand the Network Settings menu
- Open the configuration window
- Select DNS Servers
- Choose Custom and enter the private IP address from your domain controller "10.0.0.4"
- Save the changes
- Restart your "client-1" Virtual Machine
Step 9: Establish Remote Desktop Connection
- Launch your Remote Desktop Connection Application
- Mac Users download Windows App Formerly known as "Microsoft Remote Desktop"
- Windows Users open and use Remote Desktop
- Select "Add PC"
- Enter the Public IP Address from your "Client-1" "20.39.216.95"
- Add a friendly name "Client-1"
- Choose "Add Credentials" from the drop down and enter the credentials you created earlier, noting to accept the security prompt and proceed
- You can now establish a remote connection to your virtual machine, by right-clicking the newly added device
- Accept the Certificate when prompted to do so
Step 10: Confirm Correct DNS Configuration
- Now that you've established the remote connection, within your windows Virtual Machine (client-1), open up the Run application and enter "powershell"
- Attempt to ping the Domain Controllers private IP address "10.0.0.4"
- Atfer the ping succeeds run the "ipconfig /all" command
- If successful the DNS Servers should display as "10.0.04"
Project Summary
🎉Congratulations! You have succesfully deployed a Virtual Network in Azure!🎉
In this project, we configured and deployed a Windows Server 2022 Virtual Machine as a Domain Controller and a Windows 10 Pro Virtual Machine as a Client within a Microsoft Azure environment.
We established remote desktop connections (RDP) to both VMs and configured DNS settings on the client to connect it to the domain controller.
Additionally, we assigned a static private IP address to the domain controller, disabled Windows Defender firewall profiles, and verified network connectivity using PowerShell by successfully pinging the domain controller from the client.