Windows Enterprise Lab.
A Windows Server 2025 lab with domain-joined client VMs and a physical endpoint, isolated on a dedicated VLAN.
Overview
This hands-on lab tests how directory services, network configuration, policy, and access rules affect Windows clients. A dedicated VLAN isolates the lab devices from the rest of my network, and a physical Windows endpoint adds real hardware alongside the client VMs.
Lab environment
Windows Server 2025
Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, and Group Policy.
Client VMs
Multiple domain-joined Windows clients for testing authentication, policy, and access.
Physical endpoint
A Windows endpoint with internet access connected to the lab environment.
Administration & validation
Department policies
Created organizational units for mock departments, added user accounts, and applied different Windows settings and restrictions with Group Policy.
Resource access
Used groups and permissions for shared resources, then tested authentication and access with domain-joined clients.
Network services
Worked with DNS, DHCP, and network restrictions, then checked client connectivity.
Recovery checkpoints
Saved VM snapshots/checkpoints to return lab machines to a known configuration after failed changes or VM-level problems.