This walkthrough covers installing a Windows server that will be later be configured as a Domain Controller.
Download Microsoft Server 2025 from the link below and download the ISO.
Windows Server 2025 | Microsoft Evaluation Center
Select download the ISO
Register for the free ISO file.
Select the appropriate 64-bit edition and download.
Open VirtualBox Manager and select New.
Make the following settings.
Make the following settings in the Hardware dropdown.
Make the following settings under the Hard Disk drop down and select Finish.
Go to settings and choose System and make the following settings. If hard disk is not the top of the boot order, de-select enable EFI and move hard disk to the top. Then re-select enable EFI.
Disable Audio.
Go to network and make the following selections.
Start the server.
Be prepared to hit any key when the VM starts. If you are not successful in hitting any key before it times out, restart the VM.
Select language.
Select keyboard.
Select Install Windows Server.
Ensure you select a Desktop Experience version. I’m using Standard Evaluation.
Agree to terms.
Choose next.
Select install.
The server may restart several times during installation.
Create a password.
To log in select Input → Keyboard → Insert Ctrl-Alt-Del.
Then log in with the password you created.
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 CD drive and run VBoxWindowsAdditions-amd64.
Select the defaults during the installation.
Then reboot.
Open a command prompt and check the IP address using the ipconfig command.
After reboot. Manually manipulate the size of the Window until it goes to full screen.
Open a command prompt to check the IP address to determine if the networking section id functioning properly and the DHCP server assigned the appropriate IP range. Type ipconfig.
As seen above it did receive an IP address within the correct IPv4 range.
Set a static IP for the server using the pfSense interface. Log back into pfSense at https://10.0.1.1.
Again, pfSense uses a self-signed certificate and will trigger an alert. Select Advanced and then Continue.
Login with the creds we created earlier.
Once logged in, go to Status and DHCP leases.
To assign a static IP address with pfSense select the “+” icon.
Select the IP address 10.0.1.3.
Select Save and then Apply Changes.
Use ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew commands again to get the new static IP address.
- Open VirtualBox Manager 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
