Create Your Own VirtualBox Windows Server Lab from Scratch!

Name: Create Your Own VirtualBox Windows Server Lab from Scratch!
Rating: 4.5 (137 reviews)

Learn How to Create Your Own Windows 10 and Server 2016 VirtualBox Lab from Scratch!

Created byAlton Teaches LLC, Alton Hardin | 250,000+ Enrollments Worldwide

Last updated 1/2026

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What you'll learn

How to Install & Configure VirtualBox
How to Create Windows 10 & Windows Server 2016 Virtual Machines
How to Set-up a Sandbox Virtual Testing Environment LAN
How to Install & Configure Active Directory
How to Install & Configure DHCP

Course content

6 sections • 34 lectures • 2h 44m total length

Course Introduction1:54
Build a home virtualized lab with VirtualBox, running Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 with Active Directory, DHCP, sandbox testing environment, and snapshots for hands-on Windows testing.
Instructor Introduction6:06
The instructor brings nearly 18 years of IT and cybersecurity experience, with degrees in biological sciences, an MBA in information security management, and an MS in IT network management.
Course Curriculum Walk-Through2:57
Explore the course outline and learn to set up VirtualBox, install Windows Ten Enterprise Edition and Windows Server 2016, and configure snapshots, updates, and a sandbox environment.
Introduction to Virtualization3:20
Explore virtualization with VirtualBox, running multiple guest machines on one host by allocating disk space, RAM, and cores for a sandbox lab with Windows Ten and Windows Server 2016.
Virtualization Live Demo2:01
See a live VirtualBox virtualization demo on a Windows host, with two Windows 10 VMs and one Windows Server 2016 VM, sharing a private sandbox LAN and testing typical tasks.
Join our Facebook Student Community0:27
Udemy Mobile App for iOS & Andriod - Download & Take Course Videos On the Go!0:15
Student Exercise: Introduce Yourself0:10

VirtualBox Prerequisites & Requirements1:12
Download & Install Virtualbox3:33
Download and install Oracle VirtualBox on Windows, Mac, or Linux from the official downloads page, following prompts and handling user access control, then start it.
Download Windows Operating System ISO Files from My Website2:56
Download Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows Server 2016 ISO files for this course from Google Drive or the website when the Microsoft Evaluation Center is offline.
Download Windows Operating System ISO Files from Microsoft's Evaluation Center4:18
Download Windows ISO files from the Microsoft Evaluation Center, mount them in VirtualBox as a virtual DVD, and install Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows Server 2016 for lab use.
Create Virtualbox Virtual Machines5:14
Create two VirtualBox virtual machines from ISO files, configuring Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 with dynamic VDI disks, 2 GB and 3 GB RAM, and 50 GB disks.
Install Windows 10 Enterprise Operating System18:06
Set up a VirtualBox Windows 10 Enterprise vm by adjusting ram and cpus, mounting the iso, and installing Windows—then install VirtualBox Guest Additions for seamless resizing in a sandbox.
Install Windows Server 2016 Operating System12:53
Increase memory to 5 GB and three cores, mount the Windows Server 2016 ISO, install the desktop experience GUI, and enable guest additions for auto-resize and server manager.
Taking Snapshots in VirtualBox2:38
Take and manage snapshots in VirtualBox to safely test Windows Server configurations, marking them as clean installs and restoring to specific states via the machine, tools, and snapshots interface.
Installing Windows Updates5:11
Install and verify updates on two VirtualBox virtual machines, test internet connectivity with ping, run Windows Update on both Windows 10 and Windows Server, then snapshot the updated states.
Course Review Request0:39
Please leave a review or share constructive feedback on Udemy, as reviews help the instructor improve the course and guide future updates while you continue learning.

VirtualBox Community Forum, BugTracker, and Documentation1:37
Discover how to seek help for VirtualBox issues by using the end user documentation, the community forum, and the bug tracker, and learn to report bugs in this free software.
Dealing with Low Memory Errors4:57
Learn how to diagnose and fix low memory errors when booting multiple virtual machines inVirtualBox by adjusting memory allocation, shutting down other VMs, and balancing RAM and CPU cores.
Shutting Down Unresponsive Virtual Machines2:36
Learn to shut down unresponsive VirtualBox virtual machines using ACPI shutdown or power off, and save the states with snapshots to restore to a previous snapshot.

Setting Up Our Sandbox Internal LAN11:09
Switch VirtualBox VMs from NAT to an internal network to create a sandbox. Then assign private IPs and configure the server as gateway and DNS; test connectivity with ping.
Introduction to Active Directory6:10
Explore Active Directory basics, a centralized directory service on Windows Server 2016, and learn domain controllers, LDAP, and core authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts.
Active Directory Installation & Configuration9:05
Install Active Directory domain services role on Windows Server 2016, promote the server to a domain controller, configure DNS, and log in as domain administrator to verify AD and DNS.
Create an Active Directory User Account3:28
Create a standard Active Directory user in a Windows Server 2016 domain via Server Manager. Follow best practices to use a standard account and only escalate privileges when needed.
Add Windows 10 PC to Our Active Directory Domain4:57
Add a Windows 10 client to an Active Directory domain in Windows Server 2016, join the domain, log in with a domain account, and capture a snapshot.
DHCP Installation & Scope Configuration7:52
Install the dhcp role on a Windows server, create a scope with exclusions and a lease, and prepare for Active Directory integration.
Clone our Windows 10 Virtual Machine - Part 16:09
Clone virtual machines in VirtualBox to quickly create multiple Windows 10 PCs with full clones, new mac addresses, and snapshots for testing.
Clone our Windows 10 Virtual Machine - Part 212:43
Demonstrates cloning a Windows 10 VM, joining both clones to the domain, configuring DHCP and static IPs, verifying with domain login and snapshots.

Revisiting Virtualbox Snapshots8:13
Explore how to create, restore, and delete VirtualBox snapshots to manage Windows lab environments, including nested snapshots and safe restores for Active Directory and DHCP scenarios.
Introducing Virtualbox Shared Folders5:16
Explore VirtualBox shared folders to map a host folder as a network drive in the guest with auto mount, enabling file sharing and easier software installation.
Revisiting VirtualBox Settings4:16
Revisit VirtualBox settings to understand minimal changes for getting virtual machines up and running, and consult end user documentation for known limitations and experimental features before adjusting any options.

Requirements

Newer Computer with Fast 64-Bit Processor, 8-12GB of RAM, and 150GB Extra Hard Drive Space
Internet Access to Download Software and Windows Operating System ISO Files
For Follow-Along Activities, the Ability to Download and Install Windows 10 and Server 2016 as Virtual Machines
A Desire to Learn

Description

CREATE YOUR OWN WINDOWS 10 AND SERVER 2016 LAB AT HOME WITH VIRTUALBOX

Are you looking to expand your knowledge of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, but don't have a dedicated lab to do so? If so, this is the perfect course for you!

In this course, I'll show you step-by-step, how you can use VirtualBox, a free virtualization software platform, to create your own virtualized lab on your home computer that's isolated from your physical network, which is perfect for expanding your knowledge of Windows.

Specifically, I’ll walk you through the process of installing VirtualBox, creating a Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 virtual machine, and adding them to a virtualized sandbox internal network.

I’ll then walk you through installing and configuring Active Directory and DHCP on your virtualized network.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS COURSE:

The Basics of Virtualization
How to Install & Use Virtualbox
How to Create Virtual Machines
How to Install Windows 10
How to Install Windows Server 2016
How to Setup a Sandbox Internal Test Network
Microsoft Active Directory Fundamentals
How to Install & Configure Active Directory
How to Install & Configure DHCP in Windows Server 2016

Once you complete this course, you'll know exactly how to use VirtualBox to create your own Windows 10 and Server 2016 virtualized lab.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? ENROLL TODAY!

Who this course is for:

Aspiring & Inexperienced IT Professionals
Anyone Wanting to Expand Their Knowledge of VirtualBox Virtualization
Anyone Wanting to Expand Their Knowledge of Windows 10 & Windows Server 2016

Create Your Own VirtualBox Windows Server Lab from Scratch!

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Course Introduction8 lectures • 17min

Initial VirtualBox Set-Up & Operating System Installation10 lectures • 57min

Virtualbox Troubleshooting3 lectures • 9min

Setting Up Our Sandbox Testing Environment8 lectures • 1hr 2min

Revisiting Some VirtualBox Settings & Features3 lectures • 18min

Conclusion & Next Steps2 lectures • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: