Change domain name.
This manual is for Server 2016.
It is
therefore advisable to create an image of the installation (C) before
you start changing the domain name.
Then you can restore the
installation with that image if something goes wrong.
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Step by Step How to Rename Domain Name in Windows Server
You can use the
domain rename process to change the names of your domains, and
you can also use it to change the structure of the domain
trees in your forest. This process involves updating the
Domain Name System (DNS) and trust infrastructures as well as
Group Policy and service principal names (SPNs).
The ability to rename domains provides you with the flexibility to make important name changes and forest structural changes as the needs of your organization change. Using domain rename, you cannot only change the name of a domain, but you can change the structure of the domain hierarchy and change the parent of a domain or move a domain residing in one domain tree to another domain tree. The domain rename process can accommodate scenarios involving acquisitions, mergers, or name changes in your organization, but it is not designed to accommodate forest mergers or the movement of domains between forests.
Note:
Domain rename is intended to be a
supported method for renaming domains when domain renames are
necessary; it is not intended to make domain rename a routine
operation.The domain rename process is complex, and it
requires a great deal of care in planning and execution. In
addition, the time that is required for a complete domain
rename operation is directly proportional to the size of an
Active Directory forest in terms of its number of domains,
domain controllers, and member computers. Therefore, although
domain rename is possible, it should not be undertaken lightly.The
domain rename operation is not supported in Microsoft
Exchange Server 2007 or Exchange Server 2010.
DNS domain rename is supported in Exchange Server 2003.
However, renaming of the NetBIOS domain name is
not supported in any version of Exchange Server. Other
non-Microsoft applications might also not support domain
rename.
For this time easy Guide, I will show you all how to rename domain name in Windows Server 2016, the process is straightforward. but as usual. backup any necessary information and Server before you proceed & I always advice, please do this exercises in LAB Environment (Hyper-V). Dont simply take any risk by doing this is production environment unless you have to.
The existing domain is Windows.ae and I will rename it to Sifad.local
So, let
get started.
1 Open your
System Properties and check your existing
domain name, if you see from my Windows Server 2016 system
properties, my existing domain name is Windows.ae.
This will be change to Sifad.local in
the short while.
2
Next,
open your Server Dashboard, go to Tools &
click DNS to open DNS Manager.
3 on the DNS Manager, you must create the New DNS Zone (Sifad.local), this is to make -sure that after whole process successfully, your member server and Windows clients can join to new Domain name.
to
create
new DNS Zone, Right Click Forward Lookup Zone,
and click New Zone
4 On the
Welcome
to the New Zone Wizard, just click Next button.
5 On the
Zone Type, Click Primary Zone and click Next.
6 On the Active Directory Zone Replication Scope,
click button To all DNS servers running on domain controllers in this
domain: Windows.ae and click Next.
7 In the Zone Name, key in your New
Domain Name, my new Domain Name is Sifad.local.
8 On the Dynamic Update, Click Allow only secure
dynamic updates (recommended for Active Directory),
and click Next.
9 On the
completing
the New Zone Wizard, click Finish to
complete the process.
10 On DNS
Manager, you can see my new Domain Name is listed (sifad.local).
11
Next,
open Command Prompt, run as administrator.
12 In
CMD,
type rendom /list and press enter this
command use to generate a state file named Domainlist.xml.
This file contains the current forest configuration.
13 Next,
open computer and browse to C:\Users\Administrator
folder to get your Domainlist.xml.
14 Once you
see the Domainlist.xml, right click the
file name & choose Edit.
I going to change the DNSname and NetBiosName in this Domainlist.xml
file.
15 Once the Domainlist.xml
open, you can see there are few existing Domain name,
change this existing domain name to new domain name.
16 once you
change to new Domain name, make sure you save the Domainlist.xml
file.
17 After
you save the Domainlist.xml file, On
the CMD, type rendom /showforest. This is to
show the potential changes; this step does not make any
changes.
18 Next,
type rendom /upload. This is to upload
the rename instructions (Domainlist.xml) to
the
configuration directory partition on the domain controller
holding the domain naming operations master role.
19 Next, type rendom /prepare. This use to
verify the readiness of each DC in the forest to carry out the
rename instructions. This should contact all DCs
successfully and return no errors before proceed to next
process.
20 Next, type rendom /execute. This is to verifies
readiness of all DCs and then preforms the rename
action on each one.
Remember
also there will be a service interruption during this process.
Once the process successful, your DC Server will be restarted.
21 Once your DC Server restarted, log in using the
new Domain name as Administrator.
22 Next, after you successfully log in, open System
Properties and check your old Domain Name is
now gone. replace by new Domain name.
23 Next, open CMD again, and type gpfixup
/olddns:windows.ae /newdns:sifad.local
This is to refresh all intra Domain
references and links to group policy objects.
24 Next, type: gpfixup
/oldnb:oldname
/newnb:newname
gpfixup /oldnb:komp-u-ter-hulp
/newnb:kompserver
25 Next, type rendom /clean. This is to
remove references of the old domain name from AD.
26 Next, type rendom /end. This is to
unfreeze the forest configuration and allow further changes.
This was frozen during the rendom /upload step.
27 Next, Open DNS Manager, click your new
created domain (Sifad.local), here you can
see your own IP listed but we still have long way to go to
make sure this DNS Zone is working.
28 Next, turn on your client PC, for this
exercise Im using Windows 10 as a
client. Open System Properties and
join to new Domain (sifad.local). Windows Security
box will show up and now key in administrator and
domain password and click OK (Welcome to the sifad.local
domain).
Computername kompserver
Domain kompserver
Computername: kompserver
Domain: kompserver
29 After your Windows 10 restart, log in as a
domain administrator.
30 Once you log in, double check Windows 10 System
Properties. Now your Windows 10 successfully
join in to new Domain (Sifad.local).
31 Now, go to the Server 2016 and open DNS Manager,
you can see now your
Windows 10 Client kompserver is listed in DNS.
Zo niet, klik op change settings
Wijzig dat indien nodig
Computername:
kompserver
Domein: kompserver
Lukt dat niet, klik op more.
Het is
even goochelen, maar het moet uiteindelijk lukken
32 You can
also check in Active Directory Users & Computers
that your Windows 10 Client now also listed.
This ends the rename process and we have a dc now with a new
domain name.
Je kan nu herstarten en doorgaan met de
voorbereidingen van Exchange, en daarna Exchange zelf installeren en
configureren.