Renaming a SQL Server Virtual Name

Question

We need to move a cluster to a new data center. There is a strong preference to retain the previous SQL Virtual Name. The existing cluster has a single default instance.  We understand that when you have created a SQL Server FCI that you can change the SQL Virtual Name but not the instance name. So if the current SQL Virtual Name is SQL1 then at a high level:

• Build cluster at new DC
• Install SQL Server FCI with a virtual name as SQLTEMP and as a the default instance
• Shutdown old cluster
• ???
• Rename SQLTEMP to SQL1

Since there is an existing SQL Virtual Name my concern is  that we cannot simply rename SQLTEMP to SQL1. Do we need to delete the VCO from AD for SQL1 in step ???.   Does anyone have experience with a similiar situation?

thanks

Answer 1

do want activity in same domain or another domain ?

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Answer 2

The same domain.

Answer 3

Hi peterfeakins,

There is no need to delete the VCO from AD for SQL1.

Please follow the steps in this article to rename SQL Server failover cluster instance and make sure to run these commands on the server that you performed the rename on:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
nbtstat –RR

There is a similar blog about moving SQL Server cluster instance for your reference:
https://ericniemiec.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/how-to-move-a-sql-server-2008-r2-clustered-database-instance-to-a-new-sql-server-2012-cluster/

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

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Lydia Zhang
TechNet Community Support