Sure!
Below is an easy-to-understand, highly detailed step-by-step guide to setting up both a
Windows Server and Windows 11 client on a single physical PC using Hyper-V. This guide
assumes you’re using Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise.
🎯 Objective: Set up a virtual Windows Server 2022 (domain controller) and a Windows 11
client machine on one PC using Hyper-V, so that they can communicate like in a real
client-server environment.
✅ Total Steps Overview:
1. Enable Hyper-V
2. Download Windows Server & Windows 11 ISOs
3. Open Hyper-V Manager
4. Create Virtual Switch (network)
5. Create and install the Server VM
6. Promote the Server to a Domain Controller
7. Create and install the Windows 11 Client VM
8. Join Client to the Domain
9. Test and verify
Let’s break down every step clearly.
🟢 Step 1: Enable Hyper-V on Your PC
Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization platform. It’s already included in Windows 10/11 Pro,
Enterprise, and Education editions.
Option A – Enable via GUI:
1. Press Windows + R → type optionalfeatures → Enter
2. Scroll and check the following:
○ Hyper-V
○ Hyper-V Management Tools
○ Hyper-V Platform
3. Click OK
4. Let it install, then restart your PC when prompted.
Option B – Enable via PowerShell (Admin):
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All
Then restart your PC.
🟢 Step 2: Download ISO Files (Installers for Virtual Machines)
1. Windows Server 2022 Evaluation ISO:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2022
2. Windows 11 ISO:
https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
Save these files somewhere easy to find, like D:\ISOs
🟢 Step 3: Open Hyper-V Manager
1. Press Windows key → Type “Hyper-V Manager” → Open
2. On the left pane, click your computer name (host PC)
🟢 Step 4: Create a Virtual Network Switch (so VMs can talk to each other)
1. In Hyper-V Manager (right side), click Virtual Switch Manager…
2. Select “New virtual network switch”
3. Choose External → Click Create Virtual Switch
4. Name it: vSwitchLAN
5. Under “External network”, select your main internet adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
6. Keep “Allow management OS to share this network adapter” checked
7. Click OK
🟢 Step 5: Create Windows Server 2022 Virtual Machine
1. Back in Hyper-V Manager → Right-click PC name → New → Virtual Machine
2. Name: WinServer-AD → Click Next
3. Generation: Select Generation 2 → Next
4. Assign Memory: 4096 MB (4 GB) or higher → Next
5. Network: Select vSwitchLAN → Next
6. Virtual Disk:
○ Create a virtual hard disk
○ Name: WinServer-AD.vhdx
○ Size: 80 GB or more → Next
7. Installation Options:
○ Choose: Install operating system from a bootable image file (ISO)
○ Browse to your Windows Server 2022 ISO → Next
8. Click Finish
🟢 Step 6: Install Windows Server in the VM
1. In Hyper-V Manager, select the server VM → Click Connect → Start
2. Follow setup:
○ Language: English
○ Edition: Standard or Datacenter with Desktop Experience
○ Disk: Select the 80 GB drive → Next
○ Set Admin password when prompted
3. After setup completes and you log in, install updates if needed.
🟢 Step 7: Configure Server – Set Static IP & Rename
1. In Windows Server:
○ Open Network Connections: Right-click network icon → Open Network & Internet
Settings → Change adapter options
○ Right-click Ethernet → Properties → Double-click IPv4
2. Set static IP:
○ IP Address: 192.168.10.1
○ Subnet: 255.255.255.0
○ Gateway: Leave blank
○ Preferred DNS: 127.0.0.1 (server itself)
3. Rename Server:
○ Settings → System → About → Rename → e.g., WinServer-AD → Restart
🟢 Step 8: Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
1. Open Server Manager (usually auto-opens)
2. Click Manage → Add Roles and Features
3. Choose:
○ Role-based or feature-based
○ Select local server
○ Tick “Active Directory Domain Services” → Add Features → Next → Install
4. When done, click the flag icon on top → Promote this server to a domain controller
🟢 Step 9: Promote Server to Domain Controller
1. Choose Add a new forest → Enter Root domain name: mylab.local
2. Domain Controller Options:
○ Tick DNS server
○ Set DSRM password (Recovery Password)
3. Click Next all the way → Finish → Server will restart
Now your Windows Server is a Domain Controller for mylab.local
🟢 Step 10: Create Windows 11 Client VM
1. Hyper-V Manager → Right-click PC name → New → Virtual Machine
2. Name: Win11-Client → Next
3. Generation 2 → Next
4. Memory: 4096 MB → Next
5. Network: Select vSwitchLAN → Next
6. Create new virtual hard disk (e.g., 60 GB)
7. Install operating system from bootable ISO → Browse Windows 11 ISO
8. Click Finish
🟢 Step 11: Install Windows 11 on Client VM
1. Start the VM → Click Connect
2. Proceed with Windows 11 setup (you can use a local user account)
3. Once installed, install updates and enable Remote Desktop if needed
🟢 Step 12: Set Static IP on Client & Join Domain
1. Set IP:
○ Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Connections
○ Right-click Ethernet → Properties → IPv4
○ IP: 192.168.10.10
○ Subnet: 255.255.255.0
○ Gateway: 192.168.10.1 (server IP)
○ DNS: 192.168.10.1 (server IP)
2. Rename Client:
○ Settings → System → About → Rename this PC → e.g., Win11-PC → Restart
3. Join to Domain:
○ Settings → Accounts → Access Work or School → Connect → Join this device to
a local Active Directory domain
○ Domain: mylab.local
○ Use: Administrator (domain admin) and password
○ Restart when prompted
🟢 Step 13: Log in to Domain
● After restart, click "Other user"
● Enter:
○ Username: mylab\Administrator
○ Password: (admin password)
● You’re now logged into the domain.
🟢 Step 14: Test Domain
On the server:
● Open “Active Directory Users and Computers”
● Create new user: testuser → Assign password
Now on the client:
● Log off
● Try logging in as:
○ mylab\testuser
○ Use the password you set
🟢 Optional: Enable Shared Clipboard & Full Screen
● In Hyper-V → Connect → View → Enhanced Session Mode
● If not working, install Integration Services or enable Remote Desktop
🎉 Congratulations! You now have:
● A fully working domain controller (Windows Server)
● A domain-joined client (Windows 11)
● Communication between them
