Lab 1.1 AZ-800 › Day 1 › Build the Environment

Virtual Environment Setup
Install VMware & Provision VMs

Prepare your host machine by installing VMware Workstation, creating your necessary virtual machines, and configuring static IP addressing for the upcoming labs.

VMware Infrastructure
3 Sections
Foundation
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Prerequisite: Ensure you have downloaded the ISO files for Windows Server (Evaluation) and Windows 10 or 11 (Evaluation).
1
Install VMware Workstation
Set up the hypervisor on your host
  1. Download the latest version of VMware Workstation Pro or Player.
  2. Run the installer executable and follow the standard on-screen prompts.
  3. Accept the license agreement and click Next.
  4. Once the installation is complete, click Finish and restart your host computer if prompted.
2
Provision Virtual Machines
Create 2 Server VMs and 2 Client VMs
  1. Open VMware Workstation and click Create a New Virtual Machine.
  2. Select Typical installation and choose the Windows Server ISO file.
  3. Name the first VM and complete the setup. Repeat this process to create the following machines:
    Server-01, Server-02
    Client-01, Client-02
  4. For the servers, ensure they have at least 2 GB RAM and 60 GB Disk Space.
  5. Install the operating systems on all four VMs, selecting the Desktop Experience option for the servers. Allow ~30 minutes per VM — this is a good time for a break.
3
Configure Network & IP Addresses
Assign static IPs to the Server VMs
  1. In VMware, open Edit → Virtual Network Editor. Set VMnet2 to Host-Only mode with no DHCP. Assign all 4 VMs to VMnet2 — this guarantees all machines share the same isolated subnet with no routing surprises.
  2. Boot up Server-01 and open the Network Connections panel (ncpa.cpl).
  3. Right-click the Ethernet adapter, select Properties, and configure IPv4 with the following static details (no Default Gateway needed on a Host-Only network):
    IP: 192.168.10.10 / Subnet: 255.255.255.0 / DNS: 127.0.0.1
  4. Boot up Server-02 and configure its IPv4 settings:
    IP: 192.168.10.11 / Subnet: 255.255.255.0 / DNS: 192.168.10.10
  5. Rename Server-01 to DC01 and Server-02 to SVR02 using the System Settings, then restart both VMs.
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Result: Your virtual environment is now built, with static IPs assigned to your servers, ready for Active Directory promotion.