Change active Directory domain name

D

dalton cross

We migrated from NT 4 to active directory. We had an NT 4
domain name of PSCAD. We I did the migration I didn't ever
suspect that we might be connected to the Internet ( I
know!!!!!). Now that is a consideration. I set up an
Active Directory domain name of bcc.com. That describes my
organization and that is the zone name in DNS. Now we may
be connected to the Internet and I need to get a
registered domain name, bcc.com is already taken. What are
my choices. Can I change AD and DNS names? Do I have to
start all over? If you so I do I migrate my current
resorces? Can you give me a suggestion and suggest
literature that might help in planning this? I see lots of
things in my Technet but haven't found anything yet
dealing with my particular situation. Appreciate the help.

Thanks
 
T

Tim Hines [MSFT]

You cannot rename a Windows 2000 domain name. You can do this in Windows
2003. There is one workaround that you may be able to try. See 292541 How
to Rename the DNS Name of a Windows 2000 Domain
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=292541

--
Tim Hines, MCSE, MCSA
Windows 2000 Directory Services

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E

Eric Burke [MSFT]

Hi Dalton,

Unfortunately, unless you can upgrade your domain to Windows Server 2003,
which allows for domain renames, then you basically have two viable choices
other than rebuilding the domain. Either migrate the 2k domain using ADMT or
if still in mixed mode, you can install a new BDC, promote it to PDC, and
upgrade it with the new 2k domain name. Usefull links are below.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q292541
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q169741
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q178009

ADMTv2 download site:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...familyid=788975b1-5849-4707-9817-8c9773c25c6c

--
Eric Burke [MSFT]
Microsoft Directory Services
--

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
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Note: For the benefit of the community-at-large, all responses to this
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D

dalton cross

Thanks for your answer. I have found appropriate
documents. Fortunately my network meets the conditions
that I could revert back to NT4. One last question. I have
2 domain controllers, both running Win2K, I have an NT BDC
offline. If I wanted to bypass the NT method and a move to
2003 Server would I need one or both domain controllers at
2003 server. I currently have 10 Windows 2000 servers
doing various duties but only only 2 are domain
controllers. If I upgrade the master domain controller to
Windows 2003 server and left the others as they are, then
could I run the rename domain command? After this I could
switch to native mode if needed. I don't have Exchange
yet, but plan to add it so it not a factor right now.

Thanks for your help.
 
J

Jimmy Andersson

Well rendom.exe (the tool for renaming in W2K3) can only be used if you're
in W2K3 functional levels on both domain and forest.

Regards,
/Jimmy
 
S

Scott Harding - MS MVP

The name of your internal domain really shouldn't affect anything. You will
need to get a real domain name for email or websites but for your internal
domain it doesn't matter. My internal Domain name is already owned by
someone else but I have 5 domains that use my network and receive email,
websites and such on the domains that we do own.

--
Scott Harding
MCSE, MCSA, A+, Network+
Microsoft MVP - Windows NT Server

scrockel@***No_SPAM***hotmail.com
Eric Burke said:
Hi Dalton,

Unfortunately, unless you can upgrade your domain to Windows Server 2003,
which allows for domain renames, then you basically have two viable choices
other than rebuilding the domain. Either migrate the 2k domain using ADMT or
if still in mixed mode, you can install a new BDC, promote it to PDC, and
upgrade it with the new 2k domain name. Usefull links are below.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q292541
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q169741
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q178009

ADMTv2 download site:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=7889
75b1-5849-4707-9817-8c9773c25c6c

--
Eric Burke [MSFT]
Microsoft Directory Services
--

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm

Note: For the benefit of the community-at-large, all responses to this
message are best directed to the newsgroup/thread from which they
originated.
dalton cross said:
We migrated from NT 4 to active directory. We had an NT 4
domain name of PSCAD. We I did the migration I didn't ever
suspect that we might be connected to the Internet ( I
know!!!!!). Now that is a consideration. I set up an
Active Directory domain name of bcc.com. That describes my
organization and that is the zone name in DNS. Now we may
be connected to the Internet and I need to get a
registered domain name, bcc.com is already taken. What are
my choices. Can I change AD and DNS names? Do I have to
start all over? If you so I do I migrate my current
resorces? Can you give me a suggestion and suggest
literature that might help in planning this? I see lots of
things in my Technet but haven't found anything yet
dealing with my particular situation. Appreciate the help.

Thanks
 

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