This walkthrough covers the creation of a Windows 11 VM.
Below is the network diagram. As mentioned earlier, the second Windows 11 VM is optional and the IP addresses may be slightly different when you set up your lab. The important part to be consistent on is the subnet or IP range.
Windows 11 Enterprise | Microsoft Evaluation Center
Select “Download the ISO - Windows 11 Enterprise”
The .iso is free; however, you will have to register with Microsoft.
Select the 64-bit version based on your language.
- Once it is downloaded, open VirtualBox Manager and select the New tab.
- Give the VM a name and and then use the drop down on ISO Image and navigate to where you downloaded the Windows .iso. The addition type and version should automatically populate; however, if it does not you can fill it in.
- Skip the unattended installation. Go to Hardware and assign resources to your VM, as seen below. This may vary based on the resources of your host system. Ensure you save enough resources for an additional VM. A very important step is ensuring that EFI is enabled, it is requred for Windows 11.
- Select next and create the virtual hard disk. Once again it is based on the resources of your host system. Do not select the Pre-allocate Full Size.
- Go to System and deselect Floppy and move Hard Disk to the top and Optical as the second from the top. If the boot order is grayed out, temporarily deselect Enable EFI. Put the boot order to Hard Disk followed by Optical Drive. Then reselect Enable EFI and Enable Secure Boot.
- Disable Audio.
- Go to Settings and then Network and select Adapter 1, Internal Network, and change the Name to LAN 0. Select the Intel PRO/1000 adaptor.
Select Start to start the installation of Windows 11.
Be prepared to quickly press any key to start the boot process. If you fail to press any key in time, you will have to restart the VM in order to try again so that you can enter the GUI installation.
Select language settings.
Select keyboard.
Accept terms.
Select next.
Select Install.
The installation will begin.
After restarting several times, you’ll be prompted to complete the configuration. Select your country.
Confirm the keyboard.
Skip second keyboard.
Checks for updates
After update are complete. Be sure to slect “Sign-in Options”. Do not enter an email address.
Select Domain Join instead.
Enter the name you want to use.
Give it a password and confirm the password. Do not forget the password.
Answer the security questions.
Will check for updates again.
It will install the updates.
After updates, login with the credentials you created.
- Run ipconfig from the command prompt.
As seen above the IP address is in the IP range of the Ecorp VLAN. The VM successfully got the IP via DHCP from pfSense.
The VirtualBox Guest Additions is a set of software and drivers that can be installed on the guest operating system (OS) running inside a VirtualBox virtual machine (VM). These additions provide several benefits and enhancements to improve the integration and performance of the guest OS within the virtual environment, such as Improved Graphics Performance, Shared Clipboard, Shared Folders, Mouse Pointer Integration, Time Synchronization, etc. To install the Guest Additions, you mount the Guest Additions ISO (included with VirtualBox) within the guest OS.
Open the drive.
Run the installer.
Select Next on all the defaults.
This will install the necessary drivers and software to enable the enhanced features. Reboot the VM.
Log back in and manually move the size of the Windows until full-screen kicks in.
This is optional, but will allow you to copy and paste commands from the walkthrough in future lessons.
- Open VirtualBox Dashboard
- Go to the Settings of the Windows VM
- Go to the General tab.
- Select the Advanced tab
- Select Bidirectional from the Shared Clipboard setting
