Help setting up Virtual MCSE Lab

Valo

Valo

Valo

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I'm looking for some advice on how best to configure the networking on my virtual lab I'm creating to help me study for my MCSE exams.

I'm going to setup two virtual machines using Virtual PC 2007, they will be:

Windows Server 2003 R2 - Configured as: DC providing DNS & DHCP
Windows XP Pro Client - Connected to W2K3 DC
Windows Vista Client - Connected to W2K3 DC

I don't want the 2003 Server taking over on my network and causing conflicts as my ADSL Router is setup to provide DHCP & DNS to my physical machines. When I setup the all the virtual machine's settings I'm going to set them as Local Only which doesn't allow network traffic between the virtual pc and host machine, only between each virtual machine.

If I run through the install of Server 2003 and set the image to use my physical nic just to get through activation and windows update to fully patch the image will I have any problems when I come to change the virtual machines settings to Local Only and configure it as a DC on the virtual network?

What network configuration would I need to use at a later date to get a working ISA Server and WSUS server on the virtual network without it conflicting with my physical setup?
 
No problem at all. I'm not familiar with the VPC terminology but i'm sure its similar enough to vmware.
Set the server image to connect to your local network (either NAT or directly, doesnt matter), install and activate it. Do the same with the clients if they need online activation too.
Then, change the network settings to local only and configure a static IP on the server. Install DHCP on the server and go from there!
 
i'm not familiar with virtual pc either...i prefer vmware myself...you may be able to achieve the same with virtual pc though...

what i do in vmware for this sort of thing is knock up a quick linux router...only needs to be very minimal spec in terms of virtual disk and memory. then, just give it two nics - configure one to be bridged out the physical adaptor connected to the rest of your network and then configure the other to go to a virtual switch.

during the install of the linux router give the external interface a valid address on your real network, and then give the internal interface a.n.other valid rfc1918 address.

then, create the rest of your vm's and for their network adaptors configure them to point the same virtual switch as the internal interface of your virtual router.

then you can muck about with your virtual servers as much as you like without affecting your real network.

you can even publish services to the internet this way, although it involves double-nating things, which isn't ideal, but for learning purposes it's fine. on your real router just forward whatever ports you want to publish to the external interface of your virtual router, and then forward them again on your virtual router through to the 'real' virtual servers hosting the systems.

i've ran this setup using untangle (this requires a bit more oomph in the virtual resource stakes, since its proper utm type stuff not just a basic router distro like ipcop etc), sbs 2003 and several xp clients - all virtualised connected to my home network, with a static ip, with all services (owa, rww, vpn etc) published, works really well using logmein remotely for customer demo's and stuff.

give me a shout if i can help anymore.

edit: this is what my lab looked like a while back...a picture probably makes all my drivel above a bit easier to understand!

networkfo0.jpg
 
Last edited:
atomiser said:
you can even publish services to the internet this way, although it involves double-nating things, which isn't ideal, but for learning purposes it's fine.
Click to expand...

Don't want to drag this thread OT, but you don't need to double NAT. Just set up basic routing (ie no NAT) on the linux box and use iptables to control what traffic gets routed.
 
If its the full MCSE you're doing, why not put an ISA server in place of the linux router?
You might also want to put another member server in there, for Exchange or something
 
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