Monday, September 9, 2013

Server 2008: Rename Your Active Directory Domain

Server 2008: Rename Your Active Directory NetBios Name

Recently began setting up my own personal production and test networks on my personal VM host (VMware Esxi 5.1).  I had purchased a domain from GoDaddy and planed on using "internal.domain.com".

Shortly after setting up the first Domain Controller realized I need to change my NetBois to allow login as domain\user instead of internal\user.

Some quick Google searching provided the following resource:
http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/rename-active-directory-domain

Step 1: Access Domain Controller

Step 2: Open a command prompt

  • Start > Run > cmd
Step 3: Generate Domainlist.xml
  • From command prompt enter "rendom /list"
    • 2008R2 directory: C:\users\[logged in user]
Step 4: View list.xml file
  • From command prompt enter "type domainlist.xml"
Step 5: Edit Domainlist to correct NetBios name
  • Browse to file location
    • 2008R2 directory: C:\users\[logged in user]
  • Right-click and select edit (use favorite text editor if prompted)
  • Locate <!--ForestRoot -->
  • Change NetBiosName value from current (internal) to desired (domain)
    • Note I only wanted to change login from internal\user to domain\user if you wish to change domain completely update all instances of old value to new desired value.
Step 6: Verify desired changes
  • From command prompt enter "rendom /showforest"
  • Verify results
    • For domain login ensure FlatName is what you want
    • For entire rename ensure correct values for all fields
Step 7: Upload changes

  • From command prompt enter "rendom /upload"
Step 8: Prepare domain controller for update
  • From command prompt enter "rendom /prepare"
    • Best practice is to ensure all domain controllers have firewall off for remainder of operation
Step 9: Execute domain update
  • From command prompt enter "rendom /execute"
    • Verify no errors on results if so resolve before continuing (issue I ran into was firewall issues)
    • Note Domain Controllers may begin restarting. 
      • (Al-Dabbas stated his did, my experience they did not)
At this point I was able to logoff then back on as domain\user with now issues.  As I had just created the domain I did not need to continue past Step 6 of TrainSignal Blog their remaining steps walk you through updating any previous GPOs that were created.


Monday, September 2, 2013

SharePoint 2010: Hide Recently Modified

For our internal SharePoint each of our departments have a page.  Since we are using the Team Site template the pages are Wikis.  As this does not look professional I had to find a way to block on several pages (10-12 pages).

I did some searching and found you could do this two ways.

First way is per page and requires the Content Manager, following site provided the directions below: http://blog.drisgill.com/2010/09/sp2010-branding-tip-12-hiding-quick.html
This process works good for a few sites (1-3).

  1. Navigate to desired site
  2. Click Page > Site Actions > Edit Page
  3. Click Insert > Web Part
  4. Under Media and Content > Content Editor > Add
  5. Select the new webpart
  6. From ribbon click Format Text > HTML > Edit HTML Source
  7. Enter the following and Click Ok:
                  <style type="text/css">          
                         body #s4-leftpanel { display: none; }            
                        .s4-ca { margin-left: 0px; }          
                  </style>
     8.   Hiding the Content Editor
    • Webpart Tools Options > Web Part Properties
    • Expand Appearance 
    • Modify Chrome Type to None
    • Click OK
    • Save and Close page
Second way is to modify the site collections master page.  Following site provided directions:
  1. Navigate to Site with pages
  2. Click Page > Site Actions > Edit in SharePoint Designer
  3. Select Master Pages from Site Objects
  4. Select your master page to edit
    • Default is v4.master
  5. Click Edit file
    • Check out if prompted
  6. In code window scroll up till in the <head></head> section
  7. Enter following code somewhere between the <head></head> tags
    • <style type="text/css">.s4-recentchanges{display:none;}</style>
  8. Save the file
  9. Navigate back to Master pages
  10. Right click on page just edited and select Check In
    • Select Publish a major version
    • If prompted for content approval click yes
      • Browser will open
        • Select file Pending Approval
        • From drop down click Approve/Reject
        • Select approved and add comments if desired, click OK
          • Until approved changes will not take affect
Refresh the page and verify changes applied.