Can I rename my CIFS Server using Celerra Manager GUI

Question

I'm not sure if I can rename my CIFS server from the Celerra Manager. Do I delete my CIFS server then create a new one and add it to my AD domain? If I do it this way, will my shares and data stay intact? Thanks.

nandas · Accepted Answer

Here is the Procedure for renaming a Windows 2000/2003 CIFS Server(Compname) while preserving localgroups, shares, and file system permissions.

Here all the commands are run on server_2 - replace it with your server name or VDM name in case the CIFS is configured on VDM. The example uses old comp name as W2K3, new Compname as W2K3New, Domain name as abc.com.

1) Unjoin (remove) the original compname from the domain:
# server_cifs server_2 -Unjoin Compname=W2k3,domain=abc.com,admin=Administrator

2) Delete the compname from the Data Mover·s CIFS configuration (local groups are not deleted):
# server_cifs server_2 -delete compname=W2k3

3) Add the name back to the Data Mover·s CIFS configuration as a Netbios name (Create a NetBIOS with the same name as above) :
# server_cifs server_2 -add netbios=W2k3,domain=abc,interface=

4) Rename the Netbios server to the new name (Local groups are automatically renamed):
# server_cifs server_2 -rename -netbios W2k3 W2k3New

5) Delete the newly renamed NetBIOS name from the Data Mover·s CIFS configuration (local groups are not deleted) :
# server_cifs server_2 -delete netbios=W2k3prod

6) Add and join the new Compname to the CIFS configuration and AD domain:
# server_cifs server_2 ·add compname=W2k3New,domain=abc.com,interface=
# server_cifs server_2 ·Join compname=W2k3New,domain=abc.com,admin=Administrator

This is detailed in the EMC Primus emc156835.
Hope this helps,
Sandip

dynamox · Answer

i don't think you can do it from the GUI ..but cli is pretty straight forward. I had the same question as you ...check it out http://forums.emc.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=475892&#475892

Peter_EMC · Answer

As dynamox said, you can not do it from the GUI, nether is there a simple cli command for this. But there is a way of doing it, using a few commands.

nandas · Answer

However, you may add a new NetBios Alias for the existing CIFS server - if that helps. If you really need to change the CIFS server name - it has to be unjoined and rejoined back to the domain after recreation. You may search the older threads for some more details or else, revert back if you still need more details.
My 2 cents

Thanks,
Sandip

dynamox · Answer

Sandip ..what does adding new NetBios alias do ? If i have a server name "Fileserver1" and i need to rename it to "Fileserver2". If i add new netbios alias "fileserver2" to "fileserver1" CIFS server ..what's going to happen ? Will active directory DNS get updated and create an alias in AD DNS where Fileserver2 actually points Fileserver1 ? Is it still going to be accessible by its old name Fileserver1 ?

thanks a bunch

dynamox · Answer

no problem mon

dynamox · Answer

can you think of situations when somebody would want to add a netbios name to a CIFS server where netbios name is different than the CIFS server name?

Message was edited by:
dynamox

Message was edited by:
dynamox

nandas · Answer

Hmm - adding new NetBIOS name will not add a comp name to the AD automatically as you are not joining the new Compname - and thus will not be added dynamically to the DNS database as well - you have to manually add a DNS alias as well. So, this may not be an option of choice

However, I am posting the official procedure to rename a CIFS servers on my next message.

Thanks,
Sandip

nandas · Answer

I am sorry 'dynamox' - I just realized you had already provided these steps on your very first reply to this thread as a link to your older post. Sorry for not checking that out earlier. Hope you'll not mind. Sandip

nandas · Answer

That's great to know - thanks for the update and our absolute pleasure to be able to help you ("dynamox" also helped). On a side note, will you mind marking the relevant replies as "Correct" and/or "Helpful" (one correct and upto 2 helpful) - which will help to find the proper answers in future similar searches.

Thanks again,
Sandip

CoryDetty · Answer

I followed the instructions posted by Sandip and successfully renamed my CIFS server. Thank you everyone for your help. This support forum is awesome!

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Can I rename my CIFS Server using Celerra Manager GUI

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