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Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. Step by step guide: Configure a test lab to deploy Windows 10
In this articleApplies to
This guide contains instructions to configure a proof of concept (PoC) environment requiring a minimum amount of resources. This lab guide makes extensive use of Windows PowerShell and Hyper-V. Subsequent companion guides contain steps to deploy Windows 10 using the PoC environment. After completing this guide, see the following Windows 10 PoC deployment guides:
The proof of concept (PoC) deployment guides are intended to provide a demonstration of Windows 10 deployment tools and processes for IT professionals that aren't familiar with these tools, and you want to set up a PoC environment. Don't use the instructions in this guide in a production setting. They aren't meant to replace the instructions found in production deployment guidance. Approximately 3 hours are required to configure the PoC environment. You'll need a Hyper-V capable computer running Windows 8.1 or later with at least 16 GB of RAM. Detailed requirements are provided below. Windows PowerShell commands are provided to set up the PoC environment quickly. You don't need to be an expert in Windows PowerShell to complete the steps in the guide, however you'll need to customize some commands to your environment. Tip Instructions to "type" Windows PowerShell commands provided in this guide can be followed literally by typing the commands, but the preferred method is to copy and paste these commands. A Windows PowerShell window can be used to run all commands in this guide. However, when commands are specified for a command prompt, either type CMD at the Windows PowerShell prompt to enter the command prompt, or preface the command with Hyper-V is installed, configured and used extensively in this guide. If you aren't familiar with Hyper-V, review the terminology used in this guide before starting. In this guideThis guide contains instructions for three general procedures: Install Hyper-V, configure Hyper-V, and configure VMs. If you already have a computer running Hyper-V, you can use this computer and skip the first procedure. In this case, modify your virtual switch settings to match the settings used in this guide. Alternatively, you can modify the steps in this guide to use your existing Hyper-V settings. After completing the instructions in this guide, you'll have a PoC environment that enables you to test Windows 10 deployment procedures by following instructions in companion guides that are written to use the PoC environment. Links are provided to download trial versions of Windows Server 2012, Windows 10 Enterprise, and all deployment tools necessary to complete the lab. The procedures in this guide are summarized in the following table. An estimate of the time required to complete each procedure is also provided. Time required to complete procedures will vary depending on the resources available to the Hyper-V host and assigned to VMs, such as processor speed, memory allocation, disk speed, and network speed.
Hardware and software requirementsOne computer that meets the hardware and software specifications below is required to complete the guide; A second computer is recommended to validate the upgrade process.
Hardware requirements are displayed below:
Lab setupThe lab architecture is summarized in the following diagram:
Note If you have an existing Hyper-V host, you can use this host and skip the Hyper-V installation section in this guide. The two Windows Server VMs can be combined into a single VM to conserve RAM and disk space if necessary. However, instructions in this guide assume two server systems are used. Using two servers enables Active Directory Domain Services and DHCP to be installed on a server that isn't directly connected to the network. This action mitigates the risk of clients on the network receiving DHCP leases from the PoC network. In other words, a "rogue" DHCP server. It also limits NETBIOS service broadcasts. Configure the PoC environmentTip Before you begin, ensure that Windows PowerShell is pinned to the taskbar for easy access. If the Hyper-V host is running Windows Server then Windows PowerShell is automatically pinned to the taskbar. To pin Windows PowerShell to the taskbar on Windows 8.1 or Windows 10: Click Start, type power, right click Windows PowerShell, and then click Pin to taskbar. After Windows PowerShell is pinned to the taskbar, you can open an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt by right-clicking the icon on the taskbar and then clicking Run as Administrator. Procedures in this section
Verify support and install Hyper-VStarting with Windows 8, the host computer's microprocessor must support second level address translation (SLAT) to install Hyper-V. See Hyper-V: List of SLAT-Capable CPUs for Hosts for more information.
Download VHD and ISO filesWhen you have completed installation of Hyper-V on the host computer, begin configuration of Hyper-V by downloading VHD and ISO files to the Hyper-V host. These files will be used to create the VMs used in the lab.
Convert PC to VMImportant Don't attempt to use the VM resulting from the following procedure as a reference image. Also, to avoid conflicts with existing clients, don't start the VM outside the PoC network. If you don't have a PC available to convert to VM, do the following steps to download an evaluation VM:
If you have a PC available to convert to VM (computer 2):
Determine the VM generation and partition typeWhen creating a VM in Hyper-V, you must specify either generation 1 or generation 2. The following table describes requirements for these two types of VMs.
If the PC is running a 32-bit OS or the OS is Windows 7, it must be converted to a generation 1 VM. Otherwise, it can be converted to a generation 2 VM.
If the Type column doesn't indicate GPT, then the disk partition format is MBR ("Installable File System" = MBR). In the following example, the disk is GPT:
On a computer running Windows 8 or later, you can also type Get-Disk at a Windows PowerShell prompt to discover the partition style. The default output of this cmdlet displays the partition style for all attached disks. Both commands are displayed below. In this example, the client computer is running Windows 8.1 and uses a GPT style partition format: Choosing a VM generation The following tables display the Hyper-V VM generation to choose based on the OS, architecture, and partition style. Links to procedures to create the corresponding VMs are included. Windows 7 MBR
Windows 7 GPT
Windows 8 or later MBR
Windows 8 or later GPT
Note
Prepare a generation 1 VM
Prepare a generation 2 VM
Prepare a generation 1 VM from a GPT disk
Enhanced session modeImportant Before proceeding, verify that you can take advantage of enhanced session mode when completing instructions in this guide. Enhanced session mode enables you to copy and paste the commands from the Hyper-V host to VMs, between VMs, and between RDP sessions. After copying some text, you can paste into a Windows PowerShell window by simply right-clicking. Before right-clicking, do not left click other locations as this can empty the clipboard. You can also copy and paste files directly from one computer to another by right-clicking and selecting copy on one computer, then right-clicking and selecting paste on another computer. To ensure that enhanced session mode is enabled on the Hyper-V host, type the following command at an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt on the Hyper-V host:
If enhanced session mode wasn't previously enabled, close any existing virtual machine connections and reopen them to enable access to enhanced session mode. As mentioned previously: instructions to "type" commands provided in this guide can be typed, but the preferred method is to copy and paste these commands. Most of the commands to this point in the guide have been brief, but many commands in sections below are longer and more complex. Resize VHDThe second Windows Server 2012 R2 VHD needs to be expanded in size from 40 GB to 100 GB to support installing imaging tools and storing OS images.
Configure Hyper-V
Configure VMs
This process completes configuration of the starting PoC environment. More services and tools are installed in subsequent guides. Appendix A: Verify the configurationUse the following procedures to verify that the PoC environment is configured properly and working as expected.
Appendix B: Terminology used in this guide
Next stepsWindows 10 deployment scenarios FeedbackSubmit and view feedback for Which application layer protocol provides remote access to a Windows computer via a GUI?Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft which provides a user with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection. The user employs RDP client software for this purpose, while the other computer must run RDP server software.
Which command should you use to configure the primary DNS server on your computer?Type netsh and press Enter. At the netsh> prompt, type interface ip show config, then press Enter. Locate the network connection for which you want the DNS server changed. Enter interface ip set dns "Ethernet0" static 8.8.
Which protocol can configure a computer's IP address and subnet mask automatically?DHCP. DHCP is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is used to automatically provide IP addressing information to clients. A DHCP server can assign IP addresses, subnet masks, a DNS server address, and much more.
Which TCP IP model layer takes a large chunk of data from the application layer and breaks it into smaller segments?4. The transport layer. Layer 4 is responsible for end-to-end communication between the two devices. This includes taking data from the session layer and breaking it up into chunks called segments before sending it to layer 3.
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