A couple of questions.

1) In Sharepoint, system settings, alternate access mappings, I could read MANY internal URLs mapped to ONE public URL. What's that for? Also, if I have to change the public URL, do I have to reinstall sharepoint again? If not, where would I change it? The reason I am asking is fim portal is accessed via fimportal.domain.local as our AD domain name is domain.local. We would like to change the fimportal access to fimportal.domain.edu when we renew the certs. What are the complications?

2) In my understanding, fimportal can be accessed only via domain joined machines and not outside firewall. Is that correct?

Thanks in advance.

You can choose to have the SharePoint site respond to multiple names.  this is set in the SharePoint Central Admin, and the Alternate Access Mappings

Default http://fimportal.domain.edu   (load balanced VIP name)

Intranet http://USSRVIDM01  (Local server name)

Custom http://localhost (normal localhost)

Thanks Jef. Do you have an answer to my second question?