Setting up a Host server

Log into the server – At this point it will be a local account until the server is added to the domain – I
find it easier to set the local account password the same as the domain account password however
this is your preference.

Give the server a static IP address on the network – Needed for most DC roles but also stops you
from forgetting this.

NAME THE MACHINE – eg, GLAS-HYPERV-01

Restart Machine
ENSURE DELL OPEN MANAGE IS INSTALLED – FOUND IN DELL DRIVER WEBSITE FOR SERVERS
ENSURE RMM AGENT IS INSTALLED

NIC TEAMING
Plug in 2 network cables and set up NIC teaming
1. Server manager > Local Server > Properties Pane > Nic Teaming

2. This will then open the “Nic Teaming” page. – Open a new team – See below

3. This will open “Team Properties” where you will select the 2 Active Nic’s
 4. Hit ok > NIC teaming will be set up.

*** Nic Teaming is used for redundancy on the HOST network – If one cable is lost or faulty the
other cable will become primary and keep the host server live. This is essential for redundancy for
both the HOST and Virtual Machines running on the HOST. ***
5.
Setting up Hyper V – Virtual Machine Manager
All Roles and features are set up via Server Manager – Server manager is your friend.

1. Local Server > Dashboard > “2 Add roles and Features” – This will open the Add roles and
feature page.

2. Installation type - All Features will usually be “Role-based or feature-based installation”

3. Server selection - Select the server “Hostname of server you want the roles installed on”
4. Server Roles – Select the roles you want to install – In this case “HYPER-V”
5. Features – Select all applicable depending on the set up. Below should always be installed: -
a. SNMP SERVICE
b. .NET Framework 3.5
c. .NET Framework 4.5
6. Hyper-V – Click Next
7. Virtual Switch – This will be covered on Hyper-V configuration Skip for now
8. Migration – Leave as defaults > Click Next
9. Default Stores – This is where the H-V docs are created – Choose which are applicable
10. Confirmation – Ensure settings are correct > Click Install > Await Results
11. Results – This will show you status If all is ok hit finish – If errors then investigate.
12. Restart Server

*** As discussed, this is the area all roles/features will be installed on the servers. Take care when
pushing through the settings as there may be areas where the wrong settings can be installed and
then cause issues. In a fresh host there isn’t much that can go wrong. ***
Configuring Hyper V and Virtual Machines
In the last section we installed Hyper-V now it is time to set it up and set up our first machine. This is
easy and shouldn’t cause any issues if the below steps are followed.
1. Open Hyper-V Manager > Click Start > administrative tools > Hyper-V Manager.
2.
Creating Virtual Switch

1. Actions (Right hand Side) > Click Virtual Switch Manager

2. Virtual Switch Manager Will open > Click External > Create Virtual Switch

3. This is where you will name the switch – Any name or just default is fine.

4. External network – Then choose the Card – This should be the Nic Team and may be called
“Multiplexor adaptor”

5. Apply & Exit

*** Virtual switch is used for the VM’s and need to be added when setting up a virtual. To
have external network access an external Virtual switch needs to be created.
Host VLAN (IF used – Not by Default) Will need to be set here. This Vlan doesn’t apply to the
VM only the Virtual switch. – VM Vlan’s are set in the VM settings
Setting up Virtual Machine
This is how we set up virtual machines for domain controllers, App server, the possibilities are
endless. But All Virtual machines within Hyper V will be done from here and the fundamentals are
the same.

1. Actions Pane > New > Virtual Machine > “New Virtual Machine wizard” should open

2. Before You Begin – Next

3. Specify Name and Location – Name Of VM (Not the hostname) Location of Hyper-v settings
4. Specify Generation – Select Generation > Generation 1 fine for most setups.
5. Assign memory – This is the memory (RAM) assigned to the machine, This depends on what the
Virtual Machine is going to be used for – In this case we will assign 8GB for a standard DC setup.
*** Do not Click Use Dynamic Memory as this can cause issues further down the line
6. Configure Network – Assign your created Virtual Switch
7. Connect Virtual Hard disk:-
7.1. Create Virtual Hard Disk – Used when creating a new disk. Choose disk save location – Save
this where you have enough space, This is for the C:\ of the VM – By standard for a DC 120 –
140 GB is enough.
7.2. Use Existing hard Virtual Hard Disk – Use this if you have an existing VHD
7.3. Attach a hard disk later – No need to select this unless you don’t have the free space yet.
8. Installation options – Used to install OS on system – This can be done Via CD or ISO >
9. Next > Finish
10. Right Click the Newly created machine and go to Settings

11. Click Processor > Assign cores for the Virtual machine Processor > DC = 2 – 4 cores
12. Click IDE Controller > Hard Drive > ADD – This is where you create the separate Drive for Data.
We do this to separate the drives “C:\ & D:\ “assign your space to the drive.

Once you have assigned your install media right click virtual machine and hit START then Connect.

Run through your operating setup, Assigning space as per the requirements.

This changes per machine so its down to the requirements of the customer/Setup/Server usage.

*** Stay away from Check points & Snap shots, cause more issues than help and take up space ***
Setting up Domain Controller

After setting up the Virtual Machine and now at the fresh windows install it is time to set up
the server as a domain controller.
Domain Controllers usually handle – DHCP, DNS, Active Directory, Group Policy etc.

Set STATIC IP address

Set host name of server
Restart Server
INSTALL RM AGENT

Now its time to set up the roles needed for a DC

1. Open Server Manager

2. Install Roles and Features
3. Install the Following Roles:-
a. Active Directory Domain Services
b. DNS Server
c. DHCP Server
d. Print and Document Service (If the DC will host printers)
4. Install following Roles
a. .NET Framework 3.5
b. SNMP Service
5. Next – Defaults for all until Confirmation
6. Install
7. Finish and Restart

Next steps will be configuring the roles and ensuring all is working.
Setting up DNS
DNS or Domain naming Services in used to translate Hostname to IP and Vice versa

Open DNS MANAGER

1. Right click Host name (RM-TESTBED2)

2. Interfaces – Leave as “ALL IP Interfaces”
3. Forwarders – Edit > Insert IP of Router and or google 8.8.8.8 or ISP DNS Servers
4. Advanced – Leave as default unless otherwise needed
5. Root Hints – Leave as Default unless otherwise needed
6. Debug Logging – Defualts
7. Event Logging – Defaults
8. Monitoring – Defaults
9. Apply > Close page

DNS is now set up and working. Forward lookup Zones may need made however in this guide we will
not cover this for now.
Setting Up DHCP
DHCP Now needs set up, DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is what assigns IP and
network configuration to the network – In a domain environment it is best for the server to manage
this rather than the router etc.

1. Open DHCP from administrative tools

2. Fully expand menus

3. Right Click IPv4 > New scope

4. Next
5. Name – “New Scope” (This is upto you)
6. Specify Start IP – Example 192.168.10.10
7. Secify End IP – Example 192.168.10.200
 8. Add exclusions if need be – NOTE – If you start the scope higher (as above example) Then
you should set statics of the machine to the IP’s before the pool starts. Example if the pool
starts at 10.10 then 10.1 – 10.9 will be able to be assigned and won’t need exclusions.

9. Choose Lease time – Default 8 Days (Lease time is how long an IP is assigned before it is
free’d up)
10. Yes, I want to configure these options now
11. Finish

Now we need to set Scope options – This is so the machines know the router IP DNS server etc

1. Right Click Scope options shown below :-

2. Click “003 Router” – Define Router IP > Click Add

3. Click “004 Time server” – Define Time server (0.pool.ntp.org – Quick google will give you a
time server) > Click Add
4. Clcik “005 Name Servers” – Define Name Server (Domain Controller) > Click Add
5. Click “006 DNS Server” – Define DNS Server (Domain Controller) > Click Add
6. Ensure boxes are ticked next to the options > Click apply
 7. Right Click “SCOPE [IP Range]” in main DHCP under IPv4
8. Click Activate
9. You should now see Green ticks next to IPv4 – This means DHCP is set up and running.

*** If you already have a DHCP server set up and your adding this as a new one- You will need to
authorise this – Right click server host name in DHCP and click authorise – No unauthorised server
can assign IP addresses to a network ***

DHCP should now be set up ok.

Setting up Active Directory / Promoting server to a domain controller

There is multiple ways to do this but for now we will run it the easiest way.

1. After you install Active directory Domain Services, you will see a flag with an warning sign in
server manager (Task details) You will see “Post-deployment Configuration” “Promote this
server to a domain controller”

2. Click “Promote this server to domain controller”

3. This guide is for Adding a server to an existing domain so click the box for this and specify
the domain you want to Join – This will be done by fully qualified domain name (FQDN)
4. Doman Controller options – Defaults – DSRM password – Specified by you (Usually Domain
admin password)
5. DNS options – Click DNS delegation if need – Otherwise leave unticked
6. Additional Options – Net bios name should autofill
7. Paths – Leave as Defaults
8. Review options – Click next if all is ok
9. Prereq checks – Let run and finish
10. Installation – Click install > Once installed ensure all is ok then Finsh
Restart server once all is installed, Then log in as Domain admin and ensure all is ok with
Active directory etc. This task is now finished.
Ensuring Data Drives and miscellaneous settings are
set up
1. Open Computer Management
2. Navigate to Disk Management
3. Find unallocated space (Black Block)
4. Create Partition/VHD
5. Allocate disk / drive letter
6. Should now show in windows explorer

Robocopy Script to migrate Data

1. Open Notepad
2. Type the following ensuring word wrap is disabled

Robocopy \\source server\share \\Destination server\share /E /COPYALL /MT[:32] /R:3 /W:3 /TEE
/LOG:C:\robocopylog.txt

Pause

3. Copy above into a elevated command prompt

4. Allow to Run if issues follow - https://www.computerhope.com/robocopy.htm

SNMP Setup
I Configure SNMP service on client servers

In order to monitor all the hardware elements of a server N-Central requires access to a running
SNMP service on the client server. The following document will outline the steps to complete this
task.

1. The SNMP service feature needs to be added to the server through the Add Roles and Features
Wizard
2. Once the feature has been installed you will need to configure the settings for the server
within the services.msc applet and click the check boxes for Datalink and Subnetwork and
Physical services

3. Add the ‘public’ community string to the accepted community names and ensure that the
sites probes hostname is added to the ‘Accept SNMP packet from these hosts field’. You
can find the site probe by clicking on ‘Run a Discovery’ within the Actions field in N-Central
and the probe should be listed at the top of the screen. The screenshot below is a single
server site so only the localhost is added to this field but if another server had the probe
 this has to be added.

4. To test is this is working you can add a test monitor service in N-Central, first check to see
if SNMP is configured for the site as shown the screenshot below using the default values

The Document is now complete for this stage if there is anything missing please let me know
5. You can then add the SNMP monitoring service through the monitoring page and if the
above steps have been complete you should see a green tick