Auto create computername

[aazani]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm trying my best to find a solution for this but I haven't found one yet (or i'm just not looking hard enough). My question is simple, i hope the solution is simple to haha

 

The complete TS is automated, it activates windows and so on except for the computer name. We want to have it like this

 

DEPT-01 and next will be DEPT-02 and so on. DEPT is just a sort code for the departement, for example finance departement would be something like FIN-01 and next will be FIN-02 and so on.

 

How can i automate this? Can someone help me out?

[anyweb]

are you using configuration manager or not ?

[loewie1984]

Hi, depending on which tool you are using, this may be an example which will help you get further:

http://www.deploymentresearch.com/Research/tabid/62/EntryId/103/Generate-computer-names-in-MDT-2012-2013-based-on-prefix-and-a-sequence-number.aspx

 

It was already possible to store computernames in a database with MDT, just as it is with SCCM. But this blogpost explains how to achieve hostnames that are automatically followed-up by the previous/last given hostname.

 

Cheers!

[aazani]

@anyweb: Im using sccm 2012r2 with MDT 2013 integration

@loewie1984: will check the link you posted. Not at my workstation now

[aazani]

Does it have to be in a mdt task? Can't we just do a task sequence variable after applying the image? The variable would be something like, instead of DEPT-%serialnumber% something like %incrementnumber%

[Peter van der Woude]

It doesn't have to be MDT, but using the MDT scripts could help with creating those variables.

[anyweb]

have a read of this old post, it should help you with your task in Configuration Manager at least, if you are using MDT its as easy as editing your customsettings.ini as described here.

[aazani]

@anyweb. Thanks for the fast replies and support. I will check it out

 

@peter. Thanks man.

[anyweb]

also, take a look at the CM12 BitLocker Frontend HTA, it has way many more things than you need in the task sequence and associated scripts, however it also deals with auto computer naming and it might be worth your while taking a look at it

 

CM12 in a Lab - The CM12 BitLocker FrontEnd HTA

[aazani]

I'm sorry for the late reply was very busy with the implementation from test to production. I managed to figure this out. I have this powershell script that sets the OSDComputerName, but only for new computers. The others I just migrate and preserve the name. Sometimes we use the easy way if we do it only for 1 or 2 computers, by just deploying it to unknown computers as described by you.