changing NT domain/network name 1

[birdjfk]

My client wants to change their NT computer (network) name from from the current name. They also want to change the domain name. How is this done and what does it affect, i.e. maps??
Also, there is a DATA folder set up with each user folder under it, which we will map each user to. They want the DATA folder changed to USER folder. When I'm logged into the highest level, I can't right click and rename the folder. What am I missing?

I would appreciate any help you could give me
Thanks in advance.

 

[Mubashir]

Network name? I assume you mean domain name. The domain name is the name you set in the PDC at the time of installation. You can change the domain name, first at PDC and then BDCs and then the rest of the workstations in the domain. A Microsoft domain is recognized by the Security Identifier (SID), a unique number that goes on with every user and computer account you create in that domain. So changing the name of domain doesn't make much of a difference except when you have established trusts with other domains, as they are non-transitive and work on domain names.

If you are considering about changing names of NT servers, think twice, as it can have some unhealthy effects in some cases. Let me spell out a few which I have seen. Never change the name of a server if you are running any MS BackOffice application like: SQL Server, MS Exchange, etc. (except MS Proxy). These applications use NetBios names of the computers so changing the names of the servers on which these applications may lead to reinstallation.

If you are having user home folders on the server you are renaming, you will have to bear some admin overheads in modifying the UNC paths in the user profiles. but taht can be simplified using the %username% variable.

But. Overall, I don't think renaming a server is a risky thing and that too in case where server is not running any special services.

And you want to rename DATA to USER. It appears that you are trying to rename the folder over the network or remotely. To rename the folder, log in locally as admin and then right click and rename the folder. When you have successfully renamed the folder from DATA to USER, you will have to change the UNC paths of the home folders. Here's where the %username% comes into play. It can be used to assign multiple users their home folders in one go.

These are few thoughts. If you have any queries, write more.

Mubashir

 

[birdjfk]

Thank you for your help. We got the domain name changed and all the maps worked out. However, now I have a new problem. As I created shares for each user's folder under the data (now called user, but I'll use data for clarification purposes) folder. A new folder was automatically created as a sibling to the data (now called user) folder. Why is this? Also, I can't seem to map down to the level below the data folder to each individual user's folder. Why is this?

 

[Mubashir]

I think you are using the %username% variable in the home folder path for each new user that's why you are getting a new folder in the DATA (now USER) folder. Is that correct?

The idea of the %username% variable is that as you create new users in the "User Manager for Domains" and specify their home folder locations using the %username% variable like:

\\servername\user\%username%

A new folder is created for that user in the specified location. Next, you have to share that folder for the user and give him full control on it.

Also, you have to specify the drive letter by which the share is mapped for the user as a local drive.

Coming back to your problem that you can't map down to the level below the data folder to each individual user's folder. The reason is that you haven't shared them yet. Once you've shared the user folders in the USER folder for corresponding user you should be able to map to them.

Remember, you MAP the network DRIVES. A network drive MUST be shared in order for it to be shared over the network.

Hope this helps.

Mubashir
muhammad.mubashir@sbp.org.pk