Naming a computer in Windows Deployment Services...

[GANGSTA]

I want to know a way to make Windows Deployment Services prompt you for a machine name when adding it to the domain? I have got an unattend file which will install Windows Vista silently on the network bu it is just giving some random name. I want to get access to type in the computer name, so can it be possible? I have checked the XML example <ComputerName>MyComputer</ComputerName> but it needs to be prompted.

[Hockson]

To specify a policy for generating client computer names, use one of the following methods.

Using the MMC:

1. Right-click the server name, and then click Properties.
2. On the Directory Services tab, enter the naming policy in the indicated field.

Using WDSUTIL:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
2. Run WDSUTIL /Set-Server /NewMachineNamingPolicy:<Policy>
3. The policy string works as follows:
   
   • %First: the user's first name
   • %Last: the user's last name
   • %Username: the user's user name
   • %MAC: the MAC address of the computer
   • %n#: an incremental n-digit number. For example, %2# will add a number to the computer name in the following order: 1,2,3,…99.
   • %0n#: an incremental n-digit number, with zeros added before the digit. For example, %02# will add a number to the computer name in the following order: 01,02,03,…99.
4. These values can be combined in any order. A number before a tag string (such as %3First or %5Username) will crop the string to that length. For example:
   
   • %61Username%# equals JohnSmi12
   • %2first.%last equals Jo.Smith

More information can be found here - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...29.aspx#Common

[Dr.Jones]

It could be also possible that Windows Deployment Services generates duplicate client computer names when the %MAC variable is used. This problem occurs because of a bug in the Wdsclient.dll file. A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article and downloaded here - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957051