Getting Started with the AD environment

Creating your first domain controller

Active Directory (AD) is a system created by Microsoft that helps organizations manage and organize their computers, users, and other resources like printers and files. It works like a phonebook and security gate at the same time—it keeps track of who is who (like usernames and passwords), what devices are on the network, and what each person is allowed to access. For example, AD makes it easy for a company to let only certain employees use specific programs or open certain files. It also allows users to log in just once and get access to everything they need (this is called single sign-on). Overall, Active Directory helps keep everything organized, secure, and easy to manage for IT teams.

In this section, we will see how we can create our first Domain Controller for our lab! This will be the one we will be using in this complete Wiki.

I recommend using VMWare Workstation as your HyperVisor, but feel free to use your preferred one.

VM Specifications

• ISO: Windows Server 2019

• HyperVisor: VMWare Workstation

• RAM: 4GB

• CPU: 2 cores

  • Nested virtualization enabled

• Storage: 60-80GB (I recommend <40GB for an HTB submission, but here we will be adding multiple configs that are space-expensive)

• Network: Use a default NAT network or create one, I have one named HTB-DEV

Once you have the VM created, power it on, and begin the installation.

Windows Server installation

Windows is really straigh forward to install. In Windows Server, make sure you select "Desktop Experience", unless you're a PowerShell expert.

Windows Server 2019 Desktop Experience

Promoting your server to a Domain Controller

Once the server installation is complete, Server Manager will open automatically. Click "Add Roles and Features" and check the ADDS Box:

Install ADDS

When the installation is complete, hit the flag icon in the top of the application and click on the yellow warning. This will open the promotion wizard.

Domain Configuration Specifications

• Domain: boxcreator.htb

• Password: ZOH2hREhlDqwkdBK

• Hostname: DC01 ^{_{NOTE: Change it with}}

  Rename-Computer "DC01"

The configuration is straight forward — You'll be asked for the needed information all the time. Once it's done, the VM will restart.

Specify the new forest domain

I will configure auto login in VMWare so I don't have to specify the password everytime the computer starts.

Setting up AutoLogon

With all that, our Domain Controller is ready to start building our labs!

Written by ruycr4ft