Renaming an existing AD Domain.

[mar...@gbg.bg]

Hello group,

I have a current task to setup AD in two geographical locations with
Windows 20003. I have decided to use two domains in a single forest -
x.example.com and y.example.com. One of the domains will be also used
as the forest root domain. In one of the locations, there is a running
AD named "bogus.name.local".

The question is: Is it possible to rename the domain bogus.name.local
to x.example.com using the rendom tool.

I have tried it, but failed with two different results: (each time i
have restored the domain controller from a disk image)

1) First time the domain rename failed because it could not create the
dns zone for x.example.com.

2) I have manually created the zone before i start the rename
procedure. It seemed that it worked, however the workstations didn't
pick up the change even after 10 reboots. They still showed the old
domain on the logon screen.

Is the rename that i want to do possible at all or i am just wasting
time. Maybe it is easier to use the user migration tool, however there
are 100 workstations and users that i have to migrate.

I want your opinion, thanks!

[Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]]

Hello mar...@gbg.bg,

Did you follow the step by step guide form this:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb405948.aspx

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

[mar...@gbg.bg]

Hello Meinolf,

I followed microsoft's instructions but it didn't work. So i am
wondering if there is something wrong with my approach in general.
Will this rename bring me to where i want - having the existing domain
with a new name without re-joining workstations to the domain.

I guess there should be some additional step which i didn't do. Like
the manual creation of the dns zone before the rename. I didn't write
the exact steps which i took, but i followed the manual. So it will be
hard to trace if did something wrong. That is why i am more interested
on a reply if this is the right approach, or the user migration wizard
is a better option.

Cheers,
Marian

On Jan 19, 8:54 pm, Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS] <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de>
wrote:

> Hello mar...@gbg.bg,
>
> Did you follow the step by step guide form this:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb405948.aspx
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

> ** HELP us help YOU!!!http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

[Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]]

Hello mar...@gbg.bg,

The description of the link with the step by step guide works. Did it myself
in a test environment exactly as described.

Personally i would think about of the 2 domains, why not using a single forest
domain and configure sites in AD, easier with configuration, administration
etc.?

Do you have only one DC per domain, because you where talking about restoring
the DC from an image, which is a not supported way?

[mar...@gbg.bg]

Hello Meinolf,

I appreciate your input and will try harder with the domain rename. I
will try to explain better what i want to complete:

Existing domain controller for bogus.name.local will be renamed to
x.example.com. After that a second domain y.example.com will be
created in the same forest. Both domains are on different geographical
locations and will be managed by different people. However they will
share a single exchange organization. So my goal is to have a single
forest with two tree domains.

Cheers,
Marian

On Jan 19, 9:59 pm, Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS] <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de>
wrote:
> Hello mar...@gbg.bg,
>

> The description of the link with the step by step guide works. Did it myself
> in a test environment exactly as described.
>
> Personally i would think about of the 2 domains, why not using a single forest
> domain and configure sites in AD, easier with configuration, administration
> etc.?
>
> Do you have only one DC per domain, because you where talking about restoring
> the DC from an image, which is a not supported way?
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

> ** HELP us help YOU!!!http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

[Jorge de Almeida Pinto [MVP - DS]]

yes, should be able to rename the domain. The procedure from MSFT works.
Most of the time when it DOES NOT work, something is forgotten or there is
something wrong with the environment (or requirements are not met)

more info about the domain rename procedure:
http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/archive/2005/11/24/154.aspx
http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/archive/2006/05/24/1037.aspx

and yes, migration is sometimes a better option than rename. Migration can
be phased whereas domain rename not phased

--

Cheers,
(HOPEFULLY THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU!)

# Jorge de Almeida Pinto # MVP Identity & Access - Directory Services #

BLOG (WEB-BASED)--> http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/default.aspx
BLOG (RSS-FEEDS)--> http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/rss.aspx
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