Automatic Computer Name Generator Does Not "Zero Fill" Numbers

ID: Q223194

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

SUMMARY

The Remote Installation Service (RIS) has a feature that allows the service to automatically generate computer names for computers using RIS to install Windows 2000 Professional. Administrators can customize these automatically generated names using the following variables or a combination of the these items:

User's first name = %First

User's last name = %last

User's logon name = %Username =

MAC address = %MAC

Incremental number = %#

The administrator can also place a number in front of each variable so that n characters are used. However, RIS does not zero-fill the numbers.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, assume that the following customized name format is being used:

CORP-PC%3#

The generated name and computer account created in the Active Directory is equal to "CORP-PC1," not "CORP-PC001," "CORP-PC002," and so on. These numbers increase sequentially until all numbers equal to or less than 999 have been used. The Remote Install Administration tool shows the format as "CORP-PC123" to point out that numerals will be used in this field.

Additional query words: ris machine generator

Keywords : kbsetup kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo