# Prerequisites

Before starting the lab, make sure your workstation can run several VMs in
parallel. The domain controller and the Windows client are full Windows VMs
(Server and Windows 11).

## Hardware

| Resource | Recommended | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 16 GB | 12 GB |
| CPU | 4 cores | 2 cores |
| Free disk | 150 GB | 80 GB |
| CPU virtualization | VT-x or AMD-V enabled in BIOS | required |

## Software

- Recent Docker Engine (>= 24) with Compose v2 plugin
- An RDP client (optional but strongly recommended)

Install Docker according to your OS:

- Linux: `docker` and `docker-compose-plugin` packages
- Windows: Docker Desktop with WSL2 backend
- macOS Intel: Docker Desktop
- macOS Apple Silicon: not supported (see the dedicated section below)

## macOS Apple Silicon

M1/M2/M3/M4 chips do not expose an x86 `/dev/kvm`. The `dockurr/windows` image
refuses to start without KVM, and full x86 emulation via QEMU TCG is too slow
to be usable.

Workaround: install a Linux VM with Docker inside, then clone and run the lab
from there. [UTM](https://mac.getutm.app/) works well. You get a Debian or
Ubuntu VM that hosts the whole lab, and you access the lab VMs via RDP from
your Mac.

## Automated check

A script validates the critical items:

```
./scripts/check-prereqs.sh        # Linux, macOS
.\scripts\check-prereqs.ps1       # Windows PowerShell
```

It reports `[ OK ]`, `[WARN]`, `[FAIL]` for each check.

## Windows-specific setup

Nested virtualization must be enabled in WSL2. Create
`%USERPROFILE%\.wslconfig` with:

```
[wsl2]
nestedVirtualization=true
memory=16GB
processors=4
```

Then restart WSL:

```
wsl --shutdown
```

Docker Desktop will restart with nested virt available.

## Next

Once prerequisites check out, continue to `01-lab-startup.md`.