Rename Domain in Windows 2012 Server

By | October 23, 2014

How to rename a Domain in WIndows 2012 Server

In a Windows Server 2012 domain you don’t have to separately install “Rendom” utility.

This tools gets installed as part of “Active Directory Domain Services” role when you promote a server to the DC role. It can be found: %windir%system32rendom.exe.

The existing domain is D and I will rename it to D.LOCAL.

Open your System Properties and check the existing domain name. This domain name is D.  This will be changing to d.local.

System

Open your Server Dashboard, then go to Tools & click DNS to open DNS Manager..

system_manger_DNS

In the DNS Manager, you need to create the New DNS Zone (d.local), this is to make sure that after whole process successfully, your member servers and Windows clients can join to new domain.

new_zone

On the Welcome to the New Zone Wizard, click Next

new_zone_wizard

On the Zone Type, Click Primary Zone and Next

primary

On the Active Directory Zone Replication Scope, click button To all DNS servers running on domain controllers in this domain:D.local then Next

domain_only

In the Zone Name, key in your new Domain Name, my new Domain Name

new_domain

On the Dynamic Update, Click Allow only secure dynamic updates (recommended for Active Directory) then Next

allow_secure

Completing the New Zone Wizard, click Finish

dns_complete

Open DNS Manager, you can view the new DNS name

dns_view

Next, open Command Prompt as Administrator

cmd

In the prompt , type rendom /list enter – this command is used to generate a state file named Domainlist.xml on the current domain. This file contains the current forest configurations.

rendom_list

Next open the computer in explorer and go to the C:UsersAdministrator folder

domainlist_view

Open the Domainlist.xml file. Right click the file name & click Edit.

domainlist_old

With the Domainlist.xml open, change this existing domain name to new domain

domainlist_new

SAVE the Domainlist.xml file

Close the file and return to prompt. Within the prompt, type rendom /showforest. This with show you the potential changes. This step does not make any modifications.

rendom_showforest

Type rendom /upload. This will upload the Domainlist.xml to the configuration directory partition on the domain controller.

rendom_upload

Type rendom /prepare. This will verify the readiness of each DC in the forest.

rendom_prepare

Type rendom /execute. This will verify all the DC’s and then performs the rename task

** Remember also there will be an interruption during this process. Once the process has completed, your DC will be rebooted.

rendom_exe

Once the DC(s) has reboot, log into the domain controller(s) with the administrator user .

windows_login

After you successfully log into the system(s), open System Properties and check the Domain Name.

domain_verify

Open the prompt and type gpfixup /olddns:d /newdns:d.local. This is to refresh all intradomain references and links to group policy objects.

gpfix_old_new

** If you are not changing the NetBIOS name skip this step.

type gpfixup /oldnb:d /newnb:d

Type rendom /clean. This will remove all the references of the old domain within AD.

rendom_clean

Type rendom /end. This is to unfreeze the forest configuration and allow further changes. The forest was frozen during the rendom /upload.

rendom_end

Open DNS Manager, select the new domain (d.local), here you can see your IP listed.

This will conclude the renaming of the domain. If you reboot the desktop computers 3-5 times the domain change should migrate.  If the changes do not migrate you will need to un-join these computers from the domain and re-join then back  on to the network.

** If you have DHCP running on one of your domain controllers.  You may need to stop and start the DHCP service.

Feel free to leave comments.

9 thoughts on “Rename Domain in Windows 2012 Server

  1. Pingback: Rename Domain in Windows 2012 Server - JBcomp.c...

    1. James Post author

      I figure if it is my pain, I better write it down to make it easier for the next person. I am glad that is worked.

  2. Jan Zollner

    Is there still the the limitation that exchange installed in a domain wont allow this operation?

    1. James Post author

      Exchange is very tricky. I have done it once. It was not fun. You have to change a ton of settings in AD via ADSI editor.

  3. JohnP

    Great post!!! Will be giving it a try on Win2K12 DC and Exchange 2013. Does a list exist for what was changed in AD with ADSI editor?

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