Install and Manage Windows DNS Server

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Install and Manage Windows DNS Server

In this hands-on lab, we will start at the beginning and learn how to create an environment to explore networking. First, we will create a virtual machine and a couple of networks. Then we will explore how to access our virtual network, manage our environment by installing tools, renaming resources, installing a DNS server role, creating a forward lookup zone, and add an A record.

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Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Sep 25, 2025

Duration

45m

Challenge

Create Two Virtual Machines
For this first objective, I want to get you comfortable building a couple of virtual machines for use in networking labs and exploration.
1. Create a virtual machine in the West US region.
  
  The name should be inner-vm .
  
  The image should be Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition - Gen2.
  
  The VM size should be B2s.
  
  Create a new virtual network named internal-vnet.
  
  Basic NIC is ok.
  
  You do need RDP opened as an inbound port.
2. Create a second virtual machine in the West US region.
  
  The name should be inner-vm-adm.
  
  The image should be Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition - Gen2.
  
  The VM size should be B2s.
  
  Select the virtual network named internal-vnet.
  
  Basic NIC is ok.
  
  You do need RDP opened as an inbound port.
Challenge

Access the inner-vm and Install Remote Server Administration Tools
In this objective, you should access the server manager in the virtual machine you just created using RDP access through a tool such as Microsoft Remote Desktop.
1. Install remote server administration tools through Server Manager.
2. Rename the computer to inner-vm-dns01.
Challenge

Create a Forward Lookup Zone

Next, we will create a new Primary Forward Lookup Zone for our domain SandyNetworking01.com. We do not need dynamic updates.
Challenge

Create an A Record for our Forward Lookup Zone

We will now create an A record for our Forward Lookup Zone.

Use inner-vm-dns01 as the server name and enter in the appropriate IP address.
Challenge

Configure TCP/IPv4 to Use inner-server Address

In this last objective, we will log in to our inner-vm-adm VM and configure TCP/IPv4 to point at the inner-server address.

We will finish by resolving the newly created DNS server with the Resolve-DNSName inner-vm-dns01.sandynetworking01.com Powershell command.
Challenge

Install the DNS Server Role on inner-vm-dns01

Open Server Manager and install the DNS Server role on inner-vm-dns01

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