VBO Wiki

5.DHCP

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Problem: Right now you typed IP and DNS on Windows 11 manually. With 100 computers, you’d go crazy. And if you leave settings on “Automatic” with the current connection (Bridged), your home router will assign the IP. But the router doesn’t know that the DNS server is your SRV-DC01. The result: the computer gets internet but “loses” the domain. Task: Make your Server distribute IP addresses and correct settings to all devices in the network.

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE STARTING (Network Isolation) ⚠️ Since we’re now enabling our own DHCP server, if VirtualBox mode is set to “Bridged”, your lab server might start handing out IP addresses to your phone, TV, or your wife’s laptop in your home network. This will cause conflicts. So we first isolate the lab. We’ll create a virtual wire connecting only the Server and Client, and disconnect them from the home Wi-Fi.

Step 1: Network Isolation (VirtualBox)

  1. Shut down both virtual machines (Server and Windows 11).
  2. Go to the Server settings → Network.
    • Connection type: change from “Bridged Adapter” to “Internal Network”.
    • Name: intnet (leave default).
  3. Go to Windows 11 settings → Network.
    • Do the same: “Internal Network”.
  4. Start the Server.
    • Note: There is no internet on the server anymore. This is normal for a secure internal environment.

Step 2: Installing the DHCP Role

  1. On the Server, open Server Manager.
  2. Manage → Add Roles and Features.
  3. Click Next until you see the roles list.
  4. Check DHCP Server.
    • Agree to add features (Add Features).
  5. Click Next all the way and Install.

Step 3: Configuring DHCP (Post-deployment)

  1. After installation, click the yellow triangle ⚠️ again in Server Manager.
  2. Click “Complete DHCP configuration”.
  3. Next → Enter credentials (just click Commit, since you’re already admin) → Close.

Step 4: Creating a Scope

Now we need to tell the server which addresses it’s allowed to distribute.

  1. Tools → DHCP.
  2. Expand: SRV-DC01 → IPv4.
  3. Right-click on IPv4 → New Scope.
  4. Name: Office-Network (or any other).
  5. IP Address Range:
    • Start IP: 192.168.0.10 (we’ll start distributing from the 10th).
    • End IP: 192.168.0.100 (enough for 90 computers).
    • Important: Make sure the static IP of the server itself (192.168.0.200) is NOT in this range! Otherwise there will be conflicts.
    • Length/Subnet mask: 24 / 255.255.255.0.
  6. Add Exclusions: Just click Next (if you don’t want to exclude specific IPs).
  7. Lease Duration: Leave 8 days. Next.
  8. Configure DHCP Options: Select “Yes, I want to configure these options now”.
    • This is the most important part! Here we pass settings to clients.
  9. Router (Default Gateway): Since there’s no internet in our “isolated” network, this can be left empty. Or enter the server IP (192.168.0.200). Next.
  10. Domain Name and DNS Servers:
    • Parent domain: corp.vitaliy.local (should be auto-filled).
    • IP address: Your server’s IP should already be there. If not — enter it and click Add. Next.
  11. WINS: Skip (Next).
  12. Activate Scope: Select “Yes, I want to activate this scope now”. Finish.

Step 5: Testing on the Client (Moment of Truth)

  1. Start Windows 11.
  2. Go to the network adapter settings (ncpa.cpl).
  3. IPv4 Properties → Switch EVERYTHING to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically”.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Open command prompt (CMD).
  6. Type: ipconfig /all

What you should see:

  • DHCP Enabled: Yes
  • IPv4 Address: Something like 192.168.0.10 (first free from your pool).
  • DNS Servers: IP of your server (192.168.0.200).
  • Connection-specific DNS Suffix: corp.vitaliy.local.

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