Renaming a Named Instance

SQL Server Administration
1

hi experts,
My client is wanting to renamed a 2019 NAMED instance. (They will not use it after renaming. Would only use it if we had to revert back to it after renaming the instance back to the original name)
I have advised against doing this but I can't give them exact reasons.

Can it be done with reliable results?
Thanks.

2

The computer portion of a named instance can be renamed:

But the instance name cannot be changed. You'd have to install a new instance with the instance name you want.

Also note in that link that you cannot rename instances involved with replication, there's additional links about it.

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