Change domain name after install

Question

Hi,

I would like to use admt to migrate a sbs2000 server to another sbs2003 server.

In order to do this the destination server must use a different domain name than the source server.

Unfortunately, both servers have domain names of sbs.local

Is it possible to simply change the domain name of the destination server without reinstalling?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jim

jmwills · Answer

SBS.local is not a domain.  What is the FQDN of your site?

paulsilverstein · Answer

jmwills

Its perfectly fine to use SBS.local as a FQDN of your windows domain.

To answer the question, Windows 2003 now allows you to change domain names.

www.petri.co.il/windows_2003_domain_rename.htm

jmwills · Answer

Yes, but it is not a FQDN.  It is good for local use.

paulsilverstein · Answer

no jmwills,

It is a domain name and it is a FQDN. If dns.local wasnt a FQDN than his windows domain couldnt resolve it and the windows domain would fail.

Dont forget to run a windows domain, you need DNS. Thats what helps him resolve his domain name and makes everything fine. Hence, a fully qualified domain name structure is in place at his windows domain.

You are mistaken if you think a domain name needs to end with .com and you definately dont want to make your windows domain accessable to the internet, hence no need to use a internet resolvable domain naming structure such as .com

This may help get you up to speed:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296250/EN-US/

Three practical methods to name the DNS domain are:

1) Make the name a private domain name that is used for name resolution on the internal Small Business Server network. This name is usually configured with the first-level domain of .local. At the present time, the .local domain name is not registered on the Internet.

....continued...

Most Small Business Server customers should use the first method. The following list describes some of the advantages when you use a separate and private domain name for the local Small Business Server network:

The management of the local namespace is controlled by the Small Business Server Server. When you use a private FQDN for local DNS name resolution, the DNS server becomes the start of authority for the local domain. This result means that a query to external DNS root servers is not required for local resource name resolution.

And of course this stands for any windows domain, not just SBS

jmwills · Answer

Live and learn everyday with SBS.  You can have two SBS boxes on the same domain for a period of 10 days I belive for the purposes of migration.

PowerEdge OS Forum

Change domain name after install

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