Need help with RIS!

[snooz]

1) Unique computernames.

I have the SIF file set to ComputerName = %MACHINENAME% and I am calling compname in cmdlines.txt to perform the rename. The problem I have is RIS creating a computer account beforehand under the username of the account I use for authentication. So when the rename is done the computer account is out of sync. I think I may of found the solution to this but confirmation would be nice. Is the CreateComputerAccountInDomain = No the solution at least to delay until I netdom into the domain?

[identification]

JoinDomain = %MACHINEDOMAIN%

CreateComputerAccountInDomain = No

DoOldStyleDomainJoin = Yes

2) Joining the domain under a specific OU.

I have tried countless times to get this to work correctly to no avail. My SIF file is set to JoinDomain = %MACHINEDOMAIN% as shown above. I then run netdom under cmdlines.txt to join the domain. The domain shows up correctly on the workstation but AD doesn't like it. My domain is company.com and the OU structure is as follows;

Hosting

Reseller

Company1.com

Computers

Company2.com

Computers

Company3.com

Computers

The only command-line that works for me is;

netdom join %ComputerName% /domain:DOMAIN /userd:USERID /passwordd:PASSWORD

Any attempt to include the OU's fails. Here is the command-line I have been trying;

netdom join %ComputerName% /domain:DOMAIN /OU:OU=Computers,OU=Company1.com,OU=Reseller,OU=Hosting,DC=COMPANY,DC=COM /userd:USERID /passwordd:PASSWORD /verbose

I hoping someone on the board has some knowledge with this and can share their experience. If there is a better way to accomplish this through RIS etc I will am open.

[un4given1]

Problem one... RIS HAS to create a computer account. If it does not then when it reboots after text mode it will not be able to authenticate and copy the SIF file back down from the server. Why don't you just have it ask you for the computer name during the CIW?

[snooz]

That's a thought. I was hoping to totally automate it with the only interaction being F12

Anyone on problem 2?

[un4given1]

Find your RIS server in AD. Right click on it and go to Properties. You can set the default OU.

[snooz]

Thanks man I have been looking everywhere for that!

[RogueSpear]

You may want to try running compname as a part of Runonceex instead of during cmdlines. If you're using %MACHINENAME% and %MACHINEDOMAIN% in your sif file then you shouldn't even have to use netdom. It should join on it's own based on the info in the sif file.

I've been using RIS for years and I think I have it down pretty well, pehaps there is something I didn't understand in your question.