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Sever name with a underscore...

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9 replies

by cchang

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

A easy q:
I have a ONLY win2k server named "Center_Server". Base on MS, underscore is a nonstandard character but still valid. I wonder if any potential problems when/after I promote it to AD server and install Exch2K on it.

Thanks

9 replies

by nettek

Active directory relies on DNS for naming schemes, and Microsoft's version of DNS does indeed recognize an underscore (center_server.yourserver.com), but they do not recommend using them (see KB article Q241980). Exchange also does not have problems with underscores. However, you may have a problem with the underscore if you are using non-Microsoft applications on your network, or if you decide to make your network public.

by mike mullins

#1 Hit the nail on the head but didn't drive it deep enough. According to RFC 1035, the supported naming convention is letters, numbers and a hyphen. Microsoft relaxed enforcement on this standard to allow you to name your computer whatever you want. But if you expect to do DNS zone transfers with other organizations (and you will if you're connected to the internet), they most probably will NOT be running MS DNS and your server name record will be invalidated and no one outside your DNS scope will ever resolve to it.
Read MS article Q222823.

I'd change it to a hyphen and move forward from there.

Good Luck
0bytes

by shmaltz

Answer 2 suggests that you change the name if you are going to use DNS. Which I agree with, However if the problem of doing this is because of currently mapped drives; you can rename it and create an alias in the DNS server with the old name that points to the new name.

by mike_m

Yes. For example I had problems with Globetrotter's Flexlm licensing software. It doesn't recognize server's underscore. Had to change the name. Mike

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