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You can rename the domain controller if forest and domain level is in windows 2003.<br />
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Raise the forest level if you are not going to have any windows 2000 domain controller. <br />
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Easiest is to rename. Other method is a hassle. &nbsp;Follow this <a href="http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/41055/41055.html" rel="ugc">http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/41055/41055.html</a><br />
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Vinod
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You can rename the domain controller if forest and domain level is in windows 2003.

Raise the forest level if you are not going to have any windows 2000 domain controller.

Easiest is to rename. Other method is a hassle.  Follow this http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/41055/41055.html [http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/41055/41055.html]

Vinod

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I'm pretty sure you only need Forest and Domain functional levels at 2003 if you are renaming the domain - not the DC.<br />
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I'm pretty sure you only need Forest and Domain functional levels at 2003 if you are renaming the domain - not the DC.



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NOT TRUE. Domain level of 2003 is required. Forest level is optional. PLeas read the first line of above document.<br />
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Vinod.
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NOT TRUE. Domain level of 2003 is required. Forest level is optional. PLeas read the first line of above document.

Vinod.

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I have a windows 2003 small business server and I have to change the name because it contains an underscore in the name. I tried to load Exchange and it did not like the underscore. <br />
My question is; do I need to set up a second server and make it a domain controller, demote this one, change the name and then promote it? Or can I just rename the server (take out the underscore)?
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I have a windows 2003 small business server and I have to change the name because it contains an underscore in the name. I tried to load Exchange and it did not like the underscore. 
My question is; do I need to set up a second server and make it a domain controller, demote this one, change the name and then promote it? Or can I just rename the server (take out the underscore)?

changing the name of a server

Windows Server 2003 was based on Windows XP and was released in four editions: Web, Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter. It also had derivative versions for clusters, storage and Microsoft’s Small Business Server. Important upgrades included integrating Internet Information Services (IIS), improvements to Active Directory (AD) and Group Policy (GP), and the migration to Automated System Recovery (ASR).