Audit Your Host System Before You Enroll.
Download our 100% read-only diagnostic script to inspect locally, and run it in PowerShell to verify your hardware, BIOS virtualization, and disk space.
This script queries system properties via standard WMI/CIM cmdlets (Get-CimInstance). It makes no changes, installs no agents, and sends zero telemetry.
How to Run the Check
Download the Script
Download Test-LabPrerequisites.ps1 and save it to a folder on your computer.
Review the Code Locally
Open the downloaded file in your code editor or Notepad to review every command before running.
Run in PowerShell
Open PowerShell as an admin, cd to where you saved the script, and run:
Using a drive other than C: for your lab? Specify the target drive:
Expected Output & Scorecard
Here is what the live terminal output looks like on a compatible system:
The Script Runs 7 Checks
Administrator Rights
You can run this check as a regular user. Setting up the full lab environment later will need administrator rights.
64-bit Windows 11 (x64)
Requires 64-bit Windows 11 on an Intel or AMD processor. ARM chips (Snapdragon, Apple Silicon) are not supported.
BIOS Virtualization
Checks if CPU virtualization is turned on. If it is off, enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V in your system BIOS/UEFI firmware settings.
Processor Cores
You need at least 4 CPU cores. 8 or more cores are best to run all 5 virtual machines smoothly at the same time.
Standalone Mode
Checks if Hyper-V or WSL is active on your host. VMware Workstation can run alongside Hyper-V via Windows Hypervisor Platform (WHP), while standalone mode provides optimal native virtualization performance.
System Memory
16 GB of memory is the minimum to run 2 to 3 servers. 32 GB is best to run all 5 servers at once.
Free Drive Space
You need 100 GB of free SSD space (150 GB or more is best) to store your virtual machines and database files.
System Ready?
Once your system passes the diagnostic check, you can enroll with complete confidence. Get instant access to the full codebase, course, and Dave AI (lab assistant).