Renaming a SharePoint 2007 / WSS 3.0 Server

Overview

Sometimes you have to rename a Server, it can easily be done in "System properties". However, if the Server host a SharePoint Services/Server, then renaming will cause SharePoint sites to stop functioning. Eventually I found a Blog showing the steps to rename a SharePoint 2007 / WSS 3.0 Server, and I have repost the steps below.

Reference

Renaming a SharePoint 2007 / WSS 3.0 Server (I copy the steps from here)

Rename a stand-alone server (Office SharePoint Server)

Steps

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

1. Open Central Administration
2. Click on the "Operation" Tab
3. Click on the "Alternate access mappings" link under the "Global Configuration" heading
4. Modify each mapping item to reflect your newly chosen server name, making sure to keep port numbers the same (this also include the mapping for Central Administration, don’t worry it's cool)

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

1. Open a command prompt window and navigate to the folder where stsadm.exe sits. Normally "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN".
2. Use the "renameserver" command as follows, replacing and with the new and old names of your server:
   
   stsadm -o renameserver -newservername <newname> -oldservername <oldname>

Rename your Server via Change Name Operation in Windows Server 2003

1. Now the last step is to simply right click on My Computer
2. Open “Properties”
3. Click on “Computer Name” tab
4. Click “Change” button
5. Input your new server name and reboot the server

Use stsadm.exe to invoke the "updatefarmcredentials" command option

1. Open a command prompt window and navigate to the folder where stsadm.exe sits. Normally “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN”.
2. Type in the following command and press [enter]:
   
   stsadm -o updatefarmcredentials -identitytype NetworkService