Domain rename with Exchange server 2003 (Part 2)

If you would like to read the other parts of Domain rename with Exchange Server 2003, please go to:

Part 1: Domain rename with Exchange server 2003

Setup the control station
The control station is used to control the Domain and Exchange rename process.

1. At Ws1, log in as Contoso Domain Administrator.
2. Install "Windows Server 2003 Support Tools".
3. Install "Windows Server 2003 Active Direectory Domain Rename Tools".
4. Install "Group Management Console with Service Pack 1".
5. Install "Microsoft Exchange Server Domain Rename Fixup (XDR-Fixup)".
6. Click "Start", right-click "My Computer", select "Properties".
7. Select "Advanced" tab, click "Environment Variables".
8. Next to "System variables", select "Path", click "Edit".
9. At the end of Variable value, append "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Domain Rename Tools" and "C:\Program Files\exchsvr\Exchange Domain Rename Tool".

Figure 7: Path of system variables

10. Click "OK" three times.

Configuring member computers for Host Name changes

By default, the Primary DNS Suffix of a member computer of an Active Directory domain is configured to change automatically when domain membership of the computer changes. The same default behavior is true when the DNS name of the domain to which a computer is joined changes. Thus, rename of an Active Directory domain can cause modification of the primary DNS suffix and, therefore, of the full DNS host names of the computers that are the members of the renamed domain.

1. Still in Ws1, click "Start > Run", enter "adsiedit.msc".

2. Right-click "ADSI edit', select "Connect to".

3. Next to "Computer", select "Select or type a domain or server", type "dc1.contoso.com".

Figure 8: ADSI connection settings

4. Click "OK".

5. Expand "Domain [DC1.contoso.com] > DC=Contoso,DC=com".

6. Right-click "DC=Contoso,DC=com", select "Properties".

7. On the "Attribute Editor" tab, select "msDS-AllowedDNSSuffixes".

Figure 9: msDS-AllowedDNSSuffixes attribute

8. Click "Edit".

9. Under "Value to add", type "fabrikam.com", click "Add".

Figure 10: The value of msDS-AllowedDNSSuffixes attribute

10. Click "OK" twice.

11. Close "ADSI Edit".

12. Click "Start > Run", enter "gpmc.msc".

13. Expand "Forest: Contoso.com > Domains > Contoso.com".

14. Right-click "Contoso.com", select "Create and Link a GPO Here".

15. Type "DNS Suffix rename", click "OK".

16. Right-click "DNS Suffix rename", select "Edit".

17. Expand "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > DNS Client".

18. Double-click "Primary DNS Suffix".

19. Select "Enabled", next to "Enter a primary DNS suffix", type "fabrikam.com".

Figure 11: Primary DNS Suffix properties

20. Click "OK".

21. Close "Group Policy Object Editor".

22. Make sure all member computers are received the above group policy.

In Part 3, I'm going to perform domain and exchange rename.

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