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I have inherited a very small (&lt;50 users) active directory setup with the domain like example.local<br />
<br />
There is only one domain controller which is also a HyperV Host (2008R2).<br />
<br />
I want to move the domain controller to a VM on that host and also change the domain to internal.example.com<br />
<br />
Exchange has not been installed yet but will be soon.<br />
<br />
Nothing but an address book and group policy is really being done with AD.<br />
<br />
There is one SQL server on a joined server (another physical machine) but it doesn't rely on AD. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
My question is which would be the least work and least likely to cause problems?<br />
<br />
1) Create the new VM DC with the new domain internal.example.com and migrate<br />
or<br />
2) Create the new VM DC with the old name example.local and then demote the existing DC on this HyperV host and then rename the domain<br />
<br />
or if there is a better 3rd option.
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I have inherited a very small (<50 users) active directory setup with the domain like example.local

There is only one domain controller which is also a HyperV Host (2008R2).

I want to move the domain controller to a VM on that host and also change the domain to internal.example.com

Exchange has not been installed yet but will be soon.

Nothing but an address book and group policy is really being done with AD.

There is one SQL server on a joined server (another physical machine) but it doesn't rely on AD.  

My question is which would be the least work and least likely to cause problems?

1) Create the new VM DC with the new domain internal.example.com and migrate
or
2) Create the new VM DC with the old name example.local and then demote the existing DC on this HyperV host and then rename the domain

or if there is a better 3rd option.

Exch / AD setup question

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, based on the Microsoft Vista codebase, is the last 32-bit server operating system released by Microsoft. It has a number of versions, including including Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server, Itanium and Storage; new features included server core installation and Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008

Exchange is the server side of a collaborative application product that is part of the Microsoft Server infrastructure. Exchange's major features include email, calendaring, contacts and tasks, support for mobile and web-based access to information, and support for data storage.

Exchange

Active Directory (AD) is a Microsoft brand for identity-related capabilities. In the on-premises world, Windows Server AD provides a set of identity capabilities and services, and is hugely popular (88% of Fortune 1000 and 95% of enterprises use AD). This topic includes all things Active Directory including DNS, Group Policy, DFS, troubleshooting, ADFS, and all other topics under the Microsoft AD and identity umbrella.