Concluded Basics

Lab Summary: Active Directory & Group Policy on Windows Server 2016

This lab walked through creating a Windows Server 2016 VM in Oracle VirtualBox, installing Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), and promoting the server to a domain controller—the backbone of a new Windows domain.

You configured DNS and DHCP to support domain operations, ensuring proper name resolution and automated IP assignment for domain-joined devices.

The lab also covered:

• Creating a new user account in Active Directory Users and Computers.
• Joining a Windows client to the domain (which creates a corresponding computer account).
• Creating and applying Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to user and computer accounts.
• Managing AD and Group Policy via PowerShell for automation and repeatability.

Together, these steps form the core of administering a Windows domain—centralized identity, policy enforcement, and streamlined management.

Review the Series

• Installing Windows Server 2016 on Oracle VirtualBox
• Setting up DNS and DHCP
• Setting up Active Directory
• Adding a Computer to the Domain
• Setting up Group Policy
• Managing AD & GP with PowerShell