You can do it all nested on your laptop provided you have enough RAM and storage.
Active Directory is a big topic, but a minimalistic install should be enough to get you through CIFS setup
Short version:
1. Install a windows server VM on the NAT network
2. Assign a static IP within the windows VM
3. Run DCPromo from the windows command line and follow the steps in the wizard.
Part of that will have you picking a domain name, make sure its something unique/private to your lab environment. Or just reuse the name in the netapp courseware.
Then when setting up your cifs SVM, use the IP of the DC as the DNS server, the domain name used in DC promo, and the administrator credentials of the windows VM.