Renaming a Domain in Windows Server 2003

Many people are asking how to perform a domain rename using Windows Server 2003. So I want to list the major points of a domain rename together with the links you need to perform the rename.

The major points for domain rename are

• A no go are Certificate Services in your environment
• all DCs need to be Windows Server 2003, the Domain and Forestlevel must be Windows Server 2003
• the number of Domains keeps the same, domain rename is no tool to remove or add domains
• all clients and memberserver must be rebooted twice, NT-Machines need to be removed and readded to the domain
• most likely there are applications which need to be adjusted on the clientside to the new FQDN
• you should test the domain rename procedure and all applications very carefully
• it is important to use the current domain rename tool out of the Web (see below) the one which comes on the CD has bugs

• read the domain rename guide - do not stop until you are at the last page. Many people make the error not finishing the domain rename 100% because they think they are finished when the guide talks about specific scenarious to take care of. There's more afterwards.

Here are the links:

Exchange 2003 in the Forest?

If Exchange 2003 is in the Forest you need additional to follow antother KB and use the Exchange Fixup-Tools:

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