Domain Rename

[FN-GM]

Hello,

 

Has anyone ever renamed a Windows domain please? I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing your experiences please?

 

Thanks

[maark]

Did it a few years ago - went ok though a bit nerve wracking - I would do it when you have a long holiday just in case. Only issue i had was cleaning up DNS a bit. If you have got MS exchange then I don't think you can do it.

I followed guides off internet MS tech etc.

[Fazza]

Best way is to create a new domain and then migrate things across to that as and when you can. You create a 2 way trust between the two domains so that when you put a computer on the new domain it can still access resources on the original domain. Then when you've transferred or migrated things across to your new domain you just remove the trust and turn off the last DC that you have.

[FN-GM]

Best way is to create a new domain and then migrate things across to that as and when you can. You create a 2 way trust between the two domains so that when you put a computer on the new domain it can still access resources on the original domain. Then when you've transferred or migrated things across to your new domain you just remove the trust and turn off the last DC that you have.

 

Already considered that, but ruling it out. I am just after peoples experiences.

 

Thanks

[Michael]

Best advice is create a VM and do it, then you'll know for sure.

 

As others have stated, I've always started from scratch and migrated data over, but other reasons are because the existing AD structure is literally a mess!

[FN-GM]

I do plan to test it, but in the real world its a bit different. I am happy with the way AD is, just not the name. Depending how much of an issue it is, i might end up leaving it.

 

If for example something that uses LDAP is pointing to the old domain name is there any automatic redirection please?

[ful56_uk]

I think system centre doesn't support a domain rename incase you use that

[snagrat]

I've done it three times in the last 6 months.

All went well except for some machines that were not on site and didn't update to the new domain when they were brought back in.

Not sure what else I can say really

[PR-UK]

We started from scratch as most MS server products (Exchange, System Center, SQL) break and seeing as these are the most convoluted parts of the network infrastructure it was easier to start again. Plus the old domain was at least 10 years old and getting the opportunity to deploy the latest OS for every server, re-document the infrastructure, and tidy up AD was well worth it.

[2ilent8cho]

Did it about 10 years ago, on a 2003 domain, with exchange 2003, was a doddle. But i'm sure i read it cannot be done if you have newer versions of Exchange on the domain, but don't quote me there.

[mdrabble]

I opted to migrate as we had an onsite exchange 2010 box and read it would make life difficult if trying to rename the domain - I cant remember where I read it as it was over a year ago.

 

Took copied of the existing VMs and ran them on an isolated box so I could test migration without affecting things.

 

Used ADMT to migrate users including password. I could have migrated mailboxes but I opted to export as pst and then import them again.

 

Used this guide for migrating accounts - https://blog.thesysadmins.co.uk/admt-series-1-preparing-active-directory.html

[FN-GM]

Thanks for the replies. But I am only after peoples personal experiences regarding renames. I am aware on how to migrate domains as I have done loads myself so don't need any of that info please.

 

Thanks

[snagrat]

Oh the other thing to keep an eye on is any additional domain suffix you have.

 

I was renaming a domain to one of the additional suffix I had previously setup and it caused some issues. Everything looked OK but certain fields didn't seem to update correctly.

 

If I were to do it again I would remove the additional suffix before renaming

[DMcCoy]

Thanks for the replies. But I am only after peoples personal experiences regarding renames. I am aware on how to migrate domains as I have done loads myself so don't need any of that info please.

 

Thanks

 

It's simple enough, although it's a long time since I did it, but only if you don't have any products that will either make life very complicated or do not support renames. If you have Exchange, Lync, SCCM, sharepoint, then I wouldn't bother (exchange later than 2003 simply rules it out entirely last time I looked).

 

I did a 2003 domain rename, and if it's only a basic domain, then while involved, and needing to reboot everything, it shouldn't take more than two days for everything to be updated.

[mattjones]

Sorry to revive an old thread - have you tested/made any plans for the domain rename?

 

snagrat - what process did you follow?

 

No plans to do it, but this appeals to my inquisitive nature.

[snagrat]

I followed a Microsoft article. Was easy enough to find when googling.

 

Was very easy in the end

[FN-GM]

I didn't bother doing mine. I since added another school to my domain so too heavily invested now.

[HPlum78]

it can be done, but as mentioned above the only version of exchange that is supported is 2003 no other version is supported. Other things to look out for is your PKI/ CA infrastructure, ADFS SSO and the like, I also seem to think that there are some interesting issues around FIM and SCCM/ SCOM but none of these are insurmountable. Take a look here https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc781575(v=ws.10).aspx

[ITGURU]

I would never do a rename - always best to set up a new domain and migrate.

I did it once when we merged, merged 2 AD's into a single new one...least that way you know everything is clean install and can do a bit at a time.

[3enjammin]

I found this thread as I am faced with this after buying a smoothwall multi tenant and having 3 different schools that used the same domain name (same company sold us the servers)

I got to rename 2 different schools, and fair to say am a bit worried after reading this. In a nutshell can anyone confirm that what I plan to do is correct? I plan to follow instructions here (replicate new primary dns zone, rendom & gpfix)

https://mizitechinfo.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/simple-guide-how-to-rename-domain-name-in-windows-server-2012/

win2k12r2 on hyper-v

thanks in advance pretty out of my comfort zone...

[DrCheese]

What happens if you have a 365 tennant assigned to your domain?

 

I'm wary that we'll likely have to change our name over the next few years (Due to Academy status) so researching now just in case!

[snagrat]

What happens if you have a 365 tennant assigned to your domain?

 

I'm wary that we'll likely have to change our name over the next few years (Due to Academy status) so researching now just in case!

 

Not a problem for me.

 

I disabled AAD Sync while I was doing it but all worked afterwards

 

No ADFS here though