How to Cloning Win 2003Sp2 w/ SQL 2005?

Question

I have a Windows 2003 SP2 server running MS SQL 2005 and need to know if it is OK to clone that machine, sysprep, rename, re-attach and still have SQL 2005 functional?  The server needs a clone for testing with an application that resides locally as well and I want to make sure that SQL will not have any problems with this.

Answer 1

You need to change the SQL servername explicitly.

Check the SQL name after the cloning:

select @@servername (this usually is the same as the old one)

Use the sp_dropserver 'oldname'
Then sp_addserver 'newname'