Microsoft KB Archive/199011

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Underscores Are Not Valid for DNS Computer Names

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ID: Q199011

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

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SUMMARY
Windows 2000 Setup changes underscore characters (_) in server and workstation computer names to dashes (-). This occurs because Active Directory is based on DNS, and underscore characters may not be valid DNS characters.

MORE INFORMATION
In Request for Comment (RFC) 2181, any binary string is acceptable, including the underscore character. This works with Microsoft DNS servers, but may not work with servers that do not adhere to RFC 2181. After Setup is finished, you can change the computer name back to include the underscore. If you do so, you receive a warning that the computer name may not work.

Please see RFC 1034, 952, and 2181 for complete information on this standard.

Keywords : kbenv kbsetup

Version : WINDOWS:2000

Platform : WINDOWS

Issue type : kbinfo

Technology :