How can I rename a Windows Server 2003 domain controller (DC)?

A. If the DC's domain level is set to "Windows Server 2003," you can use the Netdom tool to rename the DC. Microsoft supplies Netdom as part of the Windows Support Tools, which are available from the Windows 2003 installation CD-ROM. To rename the DC using Netdom, perform the following steps:

1. Start a command-prompt session.
2. Add the new name to the current server (it will now have two names) by typing

   netdom computername <current full computer name/IP
   address> /add:<new full name>

   For example, when I typed

   netdom computername gotham.savilltech.com /add:omega.savilltech.com

   my computer displayed the following message:

   Successfully added omega.savilltech.com as an alternate
   name for the computer.
   
   The command completed successfully.

3. If multiple DNS servers are used, you must wait until the new name replicates to all authoritative DCs. After the new name has replicated, continue to the next step.
4. Make the new name the primary name for the machine by typing

   netdom computername <current full
   computer name/IP address> /makeprimary:<new full name>

   For example, when I typed

   netdom computername
   gotham.savilltech.com /makeprimary:omega.savilltech.com

   my computer displayed the following message:

   Successfully made omega.savilltech.com the primary
   name for the computer. The computer must be rebooted for
   this name change to take effect. Until then this computer
   may not be able to authenticate users and other computers,
   and may not be authenticated by other computers in the
   forest. The specified new name was removed from the list
   of alternate computer names. The primary computer name will
   be set to the specified new name after the reboot.
   
   The command completed successfully. 

5. Reboot the computer.
6. After you reboot the machine, wait until all the domain locator records replicate to all authoritative DNS servers. After the replication is complete, check to ensure that the rename worked successfully by checking the name on the Computer Name tab of the Control Panel System applet. You can also view all computer names by typing

   netdom computername <new full name> /enumerate

   For example, when I typed

   netdom computername omega.savilltech.com /enum

   my computer displayed the following:

   All of the names for the computer are:
   omega.savilltech.com
   gotham.savilltech.com
   
   The command completed successfully. 

7. You can now remove the old name by typing

   netdom computername <new full name> /remove:<old full
   name>

   For example, when I typed

   netdom computername
   omega.savilltech.com /remove:gotham.savilltech.com

   my computer displayed the following:

   Successfully removed gotham.savilltech.com as an alternate
   name for the computer.
   
   The command completed successfully.

You can enumerate the names again to show the old name has been removed.