OS X Server host name change

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Level 1

12 points

OS X Server host name change

Hi all I am told by Apple support that I need to change my server's name, host name to an actual domain name. I am currently setup on our local network with a .local name. My county guys have no problem setting up a domain name and setting up DNS for the server. My question is if I change the host name how will this affect OD and PM? I have about 150 devices added to PM. Will it have to be recreated or just an update will do the trick? But my thinking is that PM will have to be reconfigured due to DEP am I right? Anyone have experience with this and able to give more information. Thank you.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 6, 2016 9:51 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Antonio Rocco

Level 6

12,284 points

Jan 11, 2016 7:00 AM in response to Jarv15

If you change DNS (ie: hostname etc) it will have a major impact on your server in general and Open Directory/Profile Manager in general. Unfortunately an update won't do the trick. Rather than wasting time trying to soften the impact of a DNS change it is better (IMO) to rebuild and recreate from scratch - less problems in the long run. Let there be no mistake, DNS is fundamental to the stability and good working order of OS X in general and OD/PM in particular and using .local for the TLD is a major no no.

If it was me I would export what you can out of OD, bear in mind passwords do not export and get what you can out of PM. Don't be tempted to backup the OD database to restore later on as that won't really work either as there will be hundreds of references to the previous domain the new OD database won't be able to accommodate.

My 2p.

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Answer 2

Jarv15 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 11, 2016 7:01 AM in response to Antonio Rocco

Yeah that's what I figured. Well I am going to run .local up to spring break then set up new DNS with a new name. Thank you for the information it was very helpful.

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Answer 3

Jarv15 Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 3, 2016 10:08 AM in response to Antonio Rocco

OK I got the county consortium to setup the DNS for my schools Mac Server. As you suggested I would like to start fresh from scratch. How would I do that? Just trash the server app? or are their certain steps that make it a fresh start? Thank you

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Answer 4

Feb 5, 2016 2:45 AM in response to Jarv15

You could try moving the Server App to the trash and deleting the following files (some of which may not exist):

/.ServerBackups

/var/db/.ServerSetupDone

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.serverd.plist

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.servermgr_accounts.plist

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.servermgr_certs.plist

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.servermgr_info.plist

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.servermgrd.plist

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.apple.serverd

/Library/Server

Empty the trash, reboot and move the Server app from the trash back to the Applications folder and launch it again. Hopefully you should be good to go. However this method does/may not always work.

If it was me and seeing as it was a hostname change with the usual dire/major consequences for Open Directory/Profile Manager etc - and your hope is to get it 'right' and stable from the outset - I would back up any data you deem important, reformat and reinstall from scratch. I would not use Time Machine in any of this either.

My 2p.

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