Computer Name Based On MAC Address

[sodine]

I have been looking for a way to dynamically set the computer name based on the hostname at install time. The only solution I've found is unattended.sourceforge.net and I'd prefer not to go that route as a normal answer file takes care of all our other needs. Is there something I'm missing that MS provides to do this for me?

--Mike

[GreenMachine]

There is a thread that addresses this exact topic. I believe it was posted 2 - 3 months ago. When you find it, post a link here for future reference!

And ... welcome to MSFN, Mike!

[imthemp3king]

Here is the link to the article GreenMachine was referring to, though it appears that some of the important content was removed. Set computer name unattended using MAC address

Here is an example of what I use

cmdow @ /HID
ECHO.
ECHO Setting Computer Name
ECHO Please wait...
for /f "tokens=1" %%i IN ('compname /d ?m') do set MAC=%%i
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc1
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc2
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc3
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc4
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc5
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc6
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc7
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc8
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc9
IF %MAC% == 000000000000 compname /c pc10
EXIT

That seems to do the trick just fine. I know this isn't using hostnames, but it does do basically what you want it to do.

On another note, does anyone know how to set the computername using the WINNT.SIF file and a WINNT.UDB file from the CD? I wanna be able to set the names using the answer file and uniqueness database created by setup manager, but it doesn't seem to be working. Here is what I'm trying:

[Networking]
    InstallDefaultComponents = No

[NetAdapters]
    Adapter01 = params.Adapter01
    Adapter02 = params.Adapter02
    Adapter03 = params.Adapter03

[params.Adapter01]
    INFID = *
    NetCardAddress = 0xXXXXXXXXXXXX
    ConnectionName = "Local Area Connection"

[params.Adapter02]
    INFID = *
    NetCardAddress = 0xXXXXXXXXXXXX
    ConnectionName = "Local Area Connection"

[params.Adapter03]
    INFID = *
    NetCardAddress = 0xXXXXXXXXXXXX
    ConnectionName = "Local Area Connection"

[NetClients]
    MS_MSClient = params.MS_MSClient

[NetServices]
    MS_SERVER = params.MS_SERVER

[NetProtocols]
    MS_TCPIP = params.MS_TCPIP

[params.MS_TCPIP]
    AdapterSections = params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter01,params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter02,params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter03
    DNSDomain = *.com
    DNSSuffixSearchOrder = *.com
    EnableLMHosts = Yes
    UseDomainNameDevolution = No
    SyncDomainWithMembership = 0

[SetupMgr]
    ComputerName01 = PC1
    ComputerName02 = PC2
    ComputerName03 = PC3

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter01]
    SpecificTo = Adapter01
    DHCP = No
    IPAddress = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    SubnetMask = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    DefaultGateway = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    DNSServerSearchOrder = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx,xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    WINS = Yes
    WinsServerList = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    NetBIOSOptions = 1

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter02]
    SpecificTo = Adapter02
    DHCP = No
    IPAddress = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    SubnetMask = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    DefaultGateway = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    DNSServerSearchOrder = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx,xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    WINS = Yes
    WinsServerList = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    NetBIOSOptions = 1

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter03]
    SpecificTo = Adapter03
    DHCP = No
    IPAddress = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    SubnetMask = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    DefaultGateway = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    DNSServerSearchOrder = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx,xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    WINS = Yes
    WinsServerList = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    NetBIOSOptions = 1

and here is the WINNT.UDB file

;SetupMgrTag
[UniqueIds]
    PC1=UserData
    PC2=UserData
    PC3=UserData

[PC1:UserData]
    ComputerName=PC1

[PC2:UserData]
    ComputerName=PC2

[PC3:UserData]
    ComputerName=PC3

Any ideas on why this won't work? I know if you install from a command prompt you need to use the :UDF switch in oder to specify the UDB file. But I am wanting to use this on a CD install. The CMD file I used as an example above works fine for me but I wanna try using the answer file if possible

[GreenMachine]

Sorry, imthemp3king, no idea. That was the thread I was reffering to, but it seems to have lost something in translation ...

[sodine]

Thank you for the help! That seems like it will do the trick!

--Mike