Renaming a Windows 2000 domain name

[Guest]

Hello
How easy is it to rename a Windows 2000 domain name ?? Or is this something
that I shouldn't even contemplate ??

Gary

 

[Guest]

Hmmmm...
Just found this article;
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292541
Perhaps have to find another way around this! Has anyone ever tried this
procedure ??

Gary

 

[Paul Bergson]

As quoted from: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292541

Although you can rename a Windows 2000 domain in some situations that are
described in this article, Microsoft highly recommends that you decide on
the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) for DNS before you actually create a
new domain or before you upgrade the domain from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows
2000. After you create the domain, you cannot rename a Windows 2000 domain
controller. Renaming the domain involves a considerable amount of work, and
it is only possible in a scenario that meets the following conditions: 1.
You have to keep the Windows 2000 domain in Mixed mode. After you change it
to Native mode, you cannot return the domain to Mixed mode, thereby
rendering renaming impossible. To determine the mode in which the domain is
currently running, expand Active Directory Users and Computers, right-click
the domain name, and then click Properties. The mode appears in the Domain
operation mode dialog box. For more information about the different modes,
click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
186153 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186153/) Modes supported by
Windows 2000 domain controllers
2. Because the domain is in Mixed mode, it must also either have one
or more existing Windows NT 4.0 backup domain controllers (BDCs), or
computers that are available to use as Windows NT 4.0 BDCs.


See the link for full details

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, paul

This procedure looks to be a little painful and I’m not brave enough to try
this at the moment. I’m trying to think of other ways around doing this. Do
you know if it’s possible to create another (alias?) Windows 2000 domain name
that points to my existing domain. Therefore having two domain names on the
same system ?? Is that possible ??

Gary

 

[Paul Bergson]

I don't recall if the upn suffix option is available in 2000 but in 2003 if
you right click on AD Domains and Trusts and select properties there is the
UPN sufix that becomes available to probably do what you want.

 

[Guest]

Paul

Yes, the UPN suffix is available in Windows 2000. Does this mean that if I
create a UPN suffix and register it as my domain name then I don't have to
rename my existing domain ?? Or isn't it that simple ??

Thanks for your help

Gary

 

[Paul Bergson]

I don't know what you mean by register but this then is an alias for the
domain. It has been a while since I have used it but it is kind of slick.