For whatever the reason is, sooner or later the question is going to pop up - Can we Rename our Exchange Server?

Quite simply, the basic answer is NO! However, for those that wish to persist, the steps are below.

1. Disconnect all clients from the server.

2. In the Microsoft Exchange Server Administrator program, select the Server

name - Advanced tab.

3. Under IS/DS Consistency Adjustment, select a method for adjusting

inconsistencies. This step ensures that the information store is up-to-date.

4. From the Tools menu, choose Directory Export.

5. Ensure that the Assoc-NT-Account field has been exported. You use this file

to restore the mailbox, distribution list, and customer recipient

permissions.

6. Quit all Microsoft Exchange Server services.

7. Back up \dsadata\dir.edb.

8. Back up \mdbdata\priv.edb and pub.edb.

9. Run the Microsoft Exchange Server Setup program, and choose Remove All.

10. Restart your computer. and delete \exchsrvr.

11. In the Main program group, double-click Control Panel.

12. Double-click Server and then rename the server.

13. Restart your computer.

14. Run the Microsoft Exchange Server Setup program. Choose the same

organization and site names as before.

15. Restart your computer.

16. Quit all Microsoft Exchange Server services.

17. Delete *.log from \dsadata and \mdbdata.

18. Restore \mdbdata\priv.edb and pub.edb. If offline copy, run isinteg -patch.

IMPORTANT: Do not restore the files from \dsadata.

19. Restart the Microsoft Exchange Server services.

20. Run the IS/DS Consistency Adjustment again on the private and public

Information Stores. The consistency adjustment will re-create the directory

without any permissions.

21. Import the directory file created in step 4. Be sure to select Append in the

Multi-Valued Properties box.

Your server should now be running with the same mailboxes and Public Folders

but it will have a new server name. Was it worth it?