The Base Configuration Test Lab: Wanna Make Something of IT?

The new Base Configuration test lab guide (TLG) provides instructions on how to configure the Base Configuration test lab, a simplified test lab network that emulates the Internet and a private intranet. Four server computers provide the networking, Active Directory, and Web infrastructure and a client computer that can attach to either network. The following figure shows the configuration.

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The Base Configuration test lab is the foundation of a set of new Microsoft TLGs that are designed to demonstrate a technology, a product, or, by building one TLG upon another in a modular fashion, a multi-product or technology solution.

Here is an example of the set of published TLGs for DirectAccess in Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway (UAG) 2010:

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Here is another example for DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2:

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The great thing about TLGs is that they are created with virtualization in mind. After you complete a TLG, you can save the state of the test lab and restore it whenever you need a working configuration for that scenario. This allows you to easily create and test new scenarios based on the saved scenario, or even create a new TLG.

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You can contribute to the set of TLGs that use the Base Configuration test lab as a foundation by writing your own TLG instructions and publishing it in the TechNet Wiki. Your TLGs can build on the Base Configuration test lab or added to a “stack” of TLGs, such as the stacks that exist for Windows DirectAccess and UAG DirectAccess.

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Another way to contribute is to publish TLG extension topics in the TechNet Wiki. A TLG extension describes how to configure additional functionality or advanced or uncommon configurations based on a working test lab. For example, the following TLG extensions are for the DirectAccess test lab for Windows Server 2008 R2:

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· DirectAccess Test Lab Extension: Selected Server Access

· DirectAccess Test Lab Extension: Remote Management

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So, go ahead. Jump in. Build out the Base Configuration test lab and think about TLGs and TLG extensions that you can create, or as we like to say “The Base Configuration test lab: Make something of IT.”

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For an overview of TLGs, see Test Lab Guides in the TechNet Wiki.

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Joe Davies
Principal Writer
Windows Server Documentation Team