Steps to rename an Exchange 2010 SP2 server

I made an unfortunate error when I named an Exchange server msex0 which I felt of course was short for "MicroSoft EXchange." The server in question is running Windows Server 2008 R2 with all the latest updates. It is working just fine now but I really want to change the name to remove "sex" from the name, probably to something like exchange0.

I could not find a comprhensive list of steps or guide to a hostname change in Exchange. If it helps, my instance of Windows is virtualized in VMWare.

Solution 1:

haha...ok I can't help but laugh a little, not at you but at the people that pointed this out enough to make you change it.

My opinion? Don't even bother. Unless things have changed in Exch2010 you can't easily do this.

What should you do?

Simply create a CNAME in DNS called exchange0 if you want. Then when anyone asks what the exchange server name is, or you need to configure it, or they need to access OWA (internally), just tell them it is exchange0.

IF you must change it...last I recall you'd have to build up a new one, move all the mailboxes over (and services/SMTP, etc.). Then remove your old one from the org, domain.

Solution 2:

You cannot rename an Exchange server. You will have to remove Exchange, rename the server, then reinstall Exchange. If it's already in use, then you need to migrate to another server temporarily, rename the old one, then migrate back.