Hey everyone! I've been asked to change our local Windows Domain name from XXXXXXdev.internal to XXXsupport.internal. I want to keep everything else the same, just changing the domain's friendly name. I've come across different opinions online regarding this process. Is it really just as simple as renaming the domain controllers while keeping the same IPs, or is there more to it that could complicate things? I'd appreciate any advice before I potentially mess things up!
7 Answers
We did a similar change a couple of years back, and honestly, the biggest pain was rebooting all the connected devices. Just be prepared to update any configurations that reference the old domain. Thankfully, tools like SCCM can help with the reboot process.
Trust me, if you try to change the AD domain, you'll end up needing a completely new domain and joining all devices there. My experience has shown that this requires a lot of planning and can take forever, especially with a large setup. I'd avoid trying to rename at all costs!
Good to know! I wouldn’t want to deal with that hassle if it can be avoided. We have around 420 devices, but I'd rather keep things simple.
I changed a domain ages ago, and it only worked because the client was okay with starting over if things went wrong. Your best bet now is to create a new domain, establish a trust, and move users and resources over. Just be ready for a ton of work!
If you’re really going to change the domain, make sure to switch to something like a routable domain instead of .internal or .local. If you have Exchange on your network, just a heads up, changing the domain isn’t really feasible without major issues. I'd recommend registering your desired UPN suffix and managing aliases instead.
Due to my organization's structure, I can't change to a routable domain. But I’ll look into registering the UPN suffix—sounds like a solid plan!
Honestly, just don't do it. The risks and complications simply aren't worth it.
First off, whoever suggested this really needs a talking to! Changing your domain just sounds like unnecessary work and risk when there are actual issues that need fixing. If you're stuck with this idea, at least raise your concerns about it being more trouble than it’s worth.
I totally feel you. Sometimes the decisions just don't make sense, and it's frustrating to be forced into these changes.
Agreed! I’ve been in similar situations where management pushes for changes that add more complications.
Honestly, renaming a domain can be a real headache. The easier route would be to create a new domain and migrate all your users and resources over. That way you can avoid a lot of complications. Check out this guide on renaming an Active Directory domain if you really want to go through with it. Just make sure to test everything in a lab before doing it for real. Good luck!
Yeah, it's definitely better to take your time and do it right to minimize impact.
Thanks for the optimism! We do have some remote management tools, so I think we can handle the reboots. Fingers crossed!