I am going to temporary pause the Kevin Brown Windows Server training videos and read a book I purchased on Active Directory and PowerShell. I book does focus on using Azure Services but I am going to conduct the book examples in but Azure and my existing VirtualBox lab. Most likely I will have to purchase a larger Solid State Drive for Windows.
Installing DHCP Service Windows 2025 Server
I am currently in the process of configuring Windows 2025 Server to have a DHCP Service. Some potential problems in a real network are rogue DHCP servers and incorrectly set lease times. If a user of the network plugs a generic unauthorized wireless router in a switch, the router could try and issue already existing IP addresses and cause a IP conflict.
Folder Redirection
On the Folder Redirection Topic now. It seems you can have users of a network save their files on a server without realizing it. This is similar to a cloud storage service such as Google Drive. If this is configured, when a user loses his computer the files can be recovered from the server.
Active Directory Users and Computers Delegation
Delegation and Control Wizard allows you to give authority of OUs to a user or group. In The Active Directory Users and Computers tool you can create the initial OUs. Then you just right click on it and hit delegation.
Connected Windows 2025 Server Core
I was able to connect the Windows 2025 Core Server to my Virtual Domain. The Core version does not have a Graphical User Interface. It is not as intimidating as a Linux Command Line. I ran into a couple problems. I tried to assign it an IP address that was already taken (IP Conflict). The Windows System does not tell you that right away. I was confused on why I could ping the Domain Server but the software would not connect. After doing some research I found out the static IP had to be changed. It still did not connect after that. So I had to re-add the correct DNS IP (same as Active Directory Server in this case). When I logged back on the GUI Domain Controller and added the Server to the Server Manager. The server manager can actually add roles and features to servers it controls such as web hosting.
Getting the Virtual Machines to See Each Other
I had to troubleshoot my Oracle VirtualBox software. The instructor used Hyper-V but I prefer VirtualBox. I was trying to connect the second Windows 2025 Server to the First Windows 2025 Server that hosted DNS and Active Directory. It initially said it could not connect. So I tried to ping the computers and it did not work. Then I changed the network adapter settings to go from LAN to Internal. Now they can see each other but not connect to the Internet. To fix that I just have to add an additional Virtual Network Adapter.
Passed Security+ & upgraded my RAM
Yesterday I passed the Security+ Exam. I did not like the fact the exam does not show you the specific questions you missed. I thought I remembers all the abbreviations after reading a book and using a different online test simulator, but I was lost when a few of them came up. I also upgraded my RAM in my laptop. My laptop was close to using 100% of the initial 16GB Ram when I would bootup the Windows 2025 Server on VirtualBox. So I upgraded the RAM to 64GB. I eventually will try to have two servers and a Virtualized Windows 11 PC running on the Virtual Network.
Added Active Directory Services
I got added the Active Directory Role to my Server. You basically create a new forest if it is the first Active Directory Server on your network. The administrator account because the enterprise administrator for the Active Directory. If it is the only Server and no other DNS exist, it also becomes a DNS server.
Windows Server 2025 Core Install
I am currently installing two new Windows 2025 Core Virtual Machines for my Virtual Network. These servers will not have a graphical user interface. I am going to have to modify some networking settings because the instructor is using Hyper V and not VirtualBox. I am also going to have to install more RAM.
Pearson VUE Network+ Lab Simulator
I am starting to go through the Pearson VUE Network+ Lab Simulations. I purchased it before getting Certified but mainly used Udemy and Plural Sight for studying. I took the N10-008 Exam a few days before they retired it. The Peason VUE Lab for the Network+ seems very helpful when you physically don’t have access to a router, switch or other enterprise networking devices. Hopefully they make a Security+ Lab and newer Network+ lab simulator.