I need to ask if contoso.com domain can be used as onPrem domain in Lab enviroment (for Deploying Windows 11/10) when trying to Configure Azure AD Connect, actually when trying to sync onPrem AD <-> Azure / online cloud directory?

Question

Hi, sorry for interrupt... I need to ask if contoso.com (or corp.contoso.com) can be used as onPrem domain when trying to establish Windows and Office 365 deployment lab kit? I will try to specify this question in details... I belive that Azure AD needs to have verified domain, but I can't verify contoso.com domain. Correct me if my beliefs are wrong and onPrem domain doesn't have to be verified.

So, what should I do? I am using the lab kit only for testing, learing etc. but don't want to buy or register domain. Can you somehow help, can I send mx record to somebody in contoso.com?

For any help would be I would be grateful.

Best regards,

TeenZ

Answer 1

Hi @TeenZ

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

It's ok to build a sync lab without having to purchase and verify a domain. However, you won't be able to use the same UPN from your onpremises environment (contoso.com) on Entra ID, so after the sync, your users will be created as user1@contosoxyz.microsoft.com on Entra ID, which doesn't prevent you from running any tests related to a hybrid environment.

To sync your onprem users to Entra, you have 2 options:

1 - Entra Connect Sync: When using this option, all the logic and processing of the sync engine happens locally on the server you install the agent. It brings you more customizable options and less limitations, but demands more administrative efforts to manage it

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/connect/whatis-azure-ad-connect-v2

2 - Entra Cloud Sync: This is a lightweight client that you install on the server, but as opposed to the latter option, everything runs on the cloud requiring minimal resources from the server. Cloud sync has some limitations as described on the comparison link below, but that's the best option for the majority of use cases.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/cloud-sync/what-is-cloud-sync

Thanks,

Fabio