How to rename a SharePoint Server machine name.

Renaming a MOSS server is tough job. If anything goes wrong along the way chances are that you need to reconfigure your whole MOSS environment.

Here are the steps to take, and the order in which to take them if you want to rename a server that has MOSS already installed and configured on it:

1.Change each alternate access mapping for your MOSS/WSS deployment in Central Administration:

-Open Central Administration, "Operations" Tab, "Alternate access mappings" link -Modify each mapping item to reflect your newly chosen server name

2.Use stsadm.exe to invoke the "renameserver" command option:

-Open a command prompt window

-cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN"

-stsadm -o renameserver -newservername -oldservername

3.Rename your Server via Change Name Operation in Windows Server 2003: Start Menu Control Panel System, "Computer Name" tab, "Change" button.

4.Input your new server name

5.Reboot the server NOW.

6.After reboot, open command prompt
-cd C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN -stsadm -o updatefarmcredentials -userlogin -password -iisreset /noforce

7.Check all application pool identities in IIS, update where the old machine name is still there.

8.If you already have a search index drop this, and rebuild it.

Your server is now renamed.