Hello,

I have to rename my WSS 3.0 server by the end of the month. I am also running WSUS 3.0 on the same server. I don't mind having to redo WSUS if it breaks, but I've put a lot of time into WSS.

Can anyone let me know the steps necessary for renaming this and still having it be accessible? I'm leaning towards using the -stsadm tool to backup and then restore the site later, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.

 Any advice would be much appreicated.

From my experience, you can just backup - rename - and restore again (in case you reinstall the server). In case you don't wan't to reinstall the server - just rename, then you need to disconnect from server configuration - rename - connect. Don't forget to keep all custom assemblies, files and web.config with you.

You have to be carefull, when you disconnect the server from server farm - SharePoint will delete all IIS - folder, and configuration. So make a physicall backup for any assemblies - and custom files you might have.

 Regards,

Riwut Libinuko
-http://cakriwut.wordpress.com-
*please rate me, if this was helpful

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Best regards,



Riwut Libinuko
SharePoint Architect, Singapore
Microsoft MVP | SharePoint Server | Singapore | cakriwut@gmail.com
**Please let me know if you need more information**

You can use the renameserver API from the STSADM command in scenarios where you have to rename the server. Or the other option would be to create an Alias in the DNS and extend the WSS 3.0 web application to a new zone. For example: Let's imagine we have a web application called http://portserv and your requirement is to rename the server to http://portal . Ideally what we have to do it create an alias in the DNS called portal with the same IP address of portserv. Once this is done, you can extend the http://portserv with the host header value to the custom zone.

HTH,

Sri