Active Directory Basics

Active Directory Basics – Full Lab

This lab walks you through building Active Directory from scratch using real infrastructure. Nothing is skipped or hand-waved.

Overview

In this lab, you’ll spin up a Windows Server virtual machine in Azure. You’ll promote the server to a domain controller, build a basic Active Directory structure, create users and groups, and test authentication using both the GUI and PowerShell.

Note: This is not an Azure learning lab. Azure is used only as cheap, accessible infrastructure.

What this may cost

Rough estimate: $2-$8 if you finish in one sitting; more if the Windows Server VMs stay running. Actual Azure pricing varies by region, VM size, subscription, credits, and how long you leave the lab running.

  • One Windows Server domain controller VM
  • One Windows Server client VM later in the lab
  • Managed disks, public IPs, network interfaces, and a virtual network

This lab uses two Windows Server VMs, so cleanup matters more than in a single-VM lab.

How to stop billing

  1. In the Azure Portal, stop each VM and confirm the status is Stopped (deallocated).
  2. When you are finished with the lab, delete the entire ad-lab-rg resource group.
  3. Verify the resource group, VMs, disks, public IPs, and network interfaces are gone.

Deallocating stops VM compute charges. Deleting the resource group is the cleanest way to remove disks, public IPs, and other billable resources.

What You’ll Learn

  • Deploy a Windows Server VM in Azure with minimal cost
  • Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
  • Promote a server to a domain controller
  • Design a simple, logical OU structure
  • Create and manage users and security groups
  • Understand how group membership controls access
  • Authenticate users from a Windows client
  • Perform common AD tasks via GUI and PowerShell
  • Troubleshoot basic Active Directory issues

Requirements

  • Internet access
  • An Azure account and active subscription

Time & Cost

  • Estimated time: 60–90 minutes
  • Estimated cost: low if you clean up the Azure resources immediately

Downloadable Files

  • Full PDF (coming soon)
  • PowerShell scripts
Start Lab →

Thanks for working through Jake’s Tech Labs. This lab mirrors real-world Active Directory tasks used daily in IT.