VBO Wiki

1.Windows 11 Client

3 min read

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Step 0: Installation 🛑

Microsoft sells laptops with Windows 11 Home. The Home version CANNOT join a domain. This feature is cut out. You need the Pro, Enterprise, or Education version.

  1. Inside your new Windows 11 VM press Win + Pause (or go to Settings → System → About).
  2. Look at the Edition line.
    • If it says Pro / Enterprise / Education — proceed.
    • If it says Home — unfortunately, this VM will have to be deleted and the right image downloaded (Enterprise Evaluation from the Microsoft website), otherwise nothing will work. If the version is correct, here’s your algorithm. The magic of connection is about to happen.

Step 1: Setting up “cables” (VirtualBox Network)

For the client to see the server, they need to be in the same network.

  1. Shut down (or minimize) the Windows 11 VM.
  2. Go to the settings of this machine in VirtualBox → Network.
  3. Connection type: select Bridged Adapter.
    • Important: Same as we did for the Server. Now they both “sit” on your home router and can ping each other.

Step 2: Configuring DNS (The Most Important Step!) 🧠

The computer doesn’t know what vbo.local is. Only your Server knows that. So we need to tell Windows 11: “If you’re looking for addresses, ask the Server, not Google”.

  1. Start Windows 11.
  2. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl (Network connections).
  3. Right-click on the Ethernet adapter → Properties.
  4. Find IP version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.
  5. Leave IP settings automatic (getting from router), BUT CHANGE DNS:
    • Switch to “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
    • Preferred DNS server: Enter your Windows Server’s IP address (the static one, e.g., 192.168.0.200).
  6. Click OK.

Connection check: Open command prompt (cmd) in Windows 11 and type: ping vbo.local (substitute your domain name).

  • If ping works (Reply from…) — VICTORY. The network is configured.
  • If “Host not found” — check IP addresses and disable the Firewall on the server for testing.

Step 3: Joining the Domain

Now the fun part.

  1. In Windows 11 press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl (System properties).
  2. Click the Change button.
  3. At the bottom, switch the dot from “Workgroup” to Domain.
  4. Type your domain name: vbo.local (or just corp).
  5. Click OK.
  6. A login/password window appears.
    • Enter the credentials of the Domain Administrator (the one from the server).
    • Login: Administrator
    • Password: That complex server password.
  7. If everything is correct, you’ll see the longed-for message: “Welcome to the domain vbo.local”.

Step 4: Logging in as an Employee

  1. Restart Windows 11 (it will ask you to).
  2. On the login screen select “Other User”.
  3. Enter the credentials of Hans or Anna you created earlier:
    • Login: h.muster (or h.muster@vbo.local)
    • Password: Start2025! (or whatever you set).
  4. If you checked “Change password”, Windows 11 will immediately ask to create a new one. Result: As soon as you see the Windows 11 desktop under the login h.muster, you can consider yourself a Junior Admin. You’ve built a complete “Client-Server” scheme.

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