How to generate limited length random computer names ?

[Guest]

Does anybody know how to control the length of the random generated computer names created by the System Cloning tool component

I know that the "cmiGenerateComputerName" setting in the Advanced Properties for the System Cloning component allows you to select whether to generate a random Computer Name (if set to 1) or to preserve the existing one (if set to 0). However, when setting it to 1, the generated computer names are of the type "oem-xxxxxxxxxxx" -where one can control the 'root' of the name- and I need shorter unique names to be created

Any ideas



Any ideas

 

[KM]

Hi,

I don't think there is an easy way to accomplish what you want to within TD.

From my knowledge (and MS folks may jump in here and correct me if I am
wrong), currently if you leave blank the Computer Name field of the HAL
component included into your image (ACPI or Standard PC, etc.) (extended
property cmiComputerName would be an empty string) then an empty registry
string value "ComputerName" will be created in the pre-FBA image under
[HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WindowsEmbedded\FBA\0] key.
When you run FBA on your image, it will generate a random machine name using
other fields set like "Workgroup" (and most likely using some device
specific characteristics like MAC, etc.).
Since there is no sources for FBA, nothing much we can do to change the
generating procedure.

Nevertheless, I found an interesting extended property "cmiEnhancedOpt1"
(Integer format) of the HAL components. This property gets mapped to
[HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WindowsEmbedded\FBA\0],"Muser"
registry dword value if the cmiEnhancedOpt1 > 10.
I do not really know what FBA does with the value and I don't have a image
testing environment here now to find that out. If you wish, you can try
adding cmiEnhancedOpt1 extended integer property to your PC component
(Advanced button) to see if and how it changes the name generating
procedure.

KM

Does anybody know how to control the length of the random generated

computer names created by the System Cloning tool component?

I know that the "cmiGenerateComputerName" setting in the Advanced

Properties for the System Cloning component allows you to select whether to
generate a random Computer Name (if set to 1) or to preserve the existing
one (if set to 0). However, when setting it to 1, the generated computer
names are of the type "oem-xxxxxxxxxxx" -where one can control the 'root' of
the name- and I need shorter unique names to be created.