First, I apologize--I'm a beginner with VMware software and Workstation.
I am trying to setup a test lab in Workstation 10. This is a project I'm trying to do in my free time to familiarize myself with domain setups and virtualization for work and class. I would like to set up an isolated network of servers and clients. I have some experience setting up the servers in actual production environments, however I was on a short leash with these and so I was limited with what I could do. With this, I am hoping to go crazy and have a completely virtualized laboratory environment, including at least one domain controller, DHCP and DNS servers, an imaging server, and possibly an ubuntu and file/print server. I have the server 2012 VM runnning, with the end goal of that being the DC, with Active Directory Domain Services running, and possibly DHCP and DNS roles as well. I also have the windows 7 client running. I would like to have the client have a dynamically allocated IP, so I can practice with DHCP scopes and DNS lookup zones. I eventually also would like to set up Windows Deployment Services so I can learn to use MDT correctly for lite-touch and zero-touch deployments (I realize that this will require System Center Configuration Manager, another reason I wanted to create this virtual lab).
However, I am currently running into several problems. Some of these are likely due to my ignorance of workstation and certain networking principles.
My first and biggest hurdle is actually setting up the virtualized LAN segments between the server and the client (I will eventually expand this so that there are multiple servers and multiple clients, if feasible/possible). I have tried several combinations, not all of which I remember. I would like each VM to be able to access the internet, but to also only receive DHCP and DNS from my VMs, not the servers on campus. Therefore I am wondering what the proper way is to do this. I have looked at several articles and threads, but I just seem to be going in circles (I'm probably misunderstanding something). A lot of what I see, however, is targeted towards older versions of Workstation. I have the latest version of 10, and so some functions are quite a bit different from those of 5 or 8 (most of what I see is geared toward these versions). Here are some of what I've read:
Setting up a basic Test Lab using VMware Workstation - Spiceworks
What happened to Teams? | VMware Workstation Zealot - VMware Blogs
How to Create a Virtual Networks by Using VMware Workstation
creating and testing vlans in VW 10
Some of the grammar is off (probably translated), and so that could be contributing to my confusion. In any case, I am hoping that since I am having so much trouble piecing this together that someone could help me figure this out, or point me in the right direction in establishing communication between VMs.
Once I get that figured out, I am hoping to create a domain and join the client VMs to this domain with dynamic IPs, as stated before. A couple of issues with this:
- I don't want to mess up the network in my building, as having multiple DHCP servers on one network can cause some serious issues.
- I'm also not sure what IP range would be available for my use. The host IP is dynamically allocated by the building network, and I'm hoping my client VMs will also be dynamic, but receiving addresses only from my DHCP VM.
- I want to be able to also access the internet with any VM on this network.
I know this is a lot, but I'm hoping that this will not only help me, but also anyone else hoping to get started in something like this. I have looked on and off for quite some time, but have yet to really figure this out.
Also, if you have any other pieces of software or server roles that would be good to learn, I would love some advice. I just want a playground, something that will help me with work and computer sciences courses.
Thank you for any and all help.