Problem regarding imaging and netbios name


Recommended Posts

hello gang,

i have a new problem which seems to have stumped me. I recently updated an already created image (Ghost), created a new image of that system then rolled it out to approx 30 client computers. the procedure i use is this:

1 Install O/S and apps

2 Configure (using a specifically created admin account) profile to copy to default user

3 run sysprep (with the option left on to regenerate sids)

4 and whilst the computer is DOWN (as in before it boots to create new sids and follow my sysprep.inf answer file) i ghost that image.

So theorectically i can rollout fresh images that havent finshed initializing or joined domains yet, to ensure these are REALLY individual images. sysprep then continues and domain attachment is automated via sysprep.inf so i end up with computers ready to rock and roll.

My problem now stems from the fact that on my LAST set of images, the netbios name seems to have been copied across to every image. Now this is peculiar as when i look at each computer in the my computer properties, computer name, more, netbios name, it actually says the computer unique name. As expected ofcourse. But when i ping a recently imaged computer from another computer with the command "ping -a NEWIMAGE1" i recieve a reply from the correct ip adress, but of the netbios name of the host image computer before sysprep was run on it.

Let me say that bit again, the host image (the computer my image was created from) had a computer name of 'Image010306Builda', and such a netbios name of the same up 2 15 characters ofcourse. Sysprep was run on this computer to regerate sids and the like. When this computer shutdown after sysprep i imaged it. My new images all got new computer names (during the sysprep procedure). But now when i interogate these computers they have the same netbios name as the originaal host computer, whilst their own netbios name configuration IS their own (correct) dns computer name.

i cant seem to find the cause of this. I had a WINs server in operation but removed it for clarity sake, it did not have any records regarding my issue anyway.

Any help please, especially from S.O.E admins or anyone really. Thanks alot guys.

Hi amfony,

This may sound strange but we had exactly the same issue at our DR site recently.

You'll find all the machines are pinging via WINS instead of DNS i.e. WKS001 instead of WKS001.domain.co.uk)

Anyway, the fix the engineering team implemented was to script in an "ipconfig /release" and "ipconfig /release" upon the final boot (after our image was rolled and had at least once booted into windows).

Try that on one machine and then try pinging...you should be able to via DNS and resolve name correctly.

What I couldn't understand was a reboot was NOT resolving the issue...it required a forced ipconfig release and renew. Very strange indeed.

Please post an update here whatever the outcome.

Many thanks

i tried but no dice. under every circumstance i get the same reply. i even ran sysprep again on a image client machine, removed ut from domain, uninstalled the nic, rebooted, searched registry, i disabled netbios expliocilty from the nic, (its disabled by dhcp by default) and no dice. i am at a loss

Where are you resolving these names from? Your machine? Every other machine on the network? Where?

Sounds like you have a cached entry or lmhost/host entry in where ever your trying to access these machines from.. What does a nbtstat -A IPADDRESS of the machine in question show?

What does your cache show on the machine your doing these queries from? nbtstat -c

What does the machine in question show for nbtstat -n show?

Sorry for the late reply guys! but i am back now

Sorry budman i should have been more specific, from the newly created image (lets name it CLTIMG) when i ping it self, i get returned its proper "dns" fqdn (and proper address), when i type the command "ping -a IPADDRESS OF SELF" i get the CORRECT DNS name relpy again. Now this is what i expect as i have disabled netbios via DHCP options.

When i ping from ANOTHER (any other) computer to the CLTIMG via its proper name, i get a correct and legitmate dns response (my ddns is working fine and all records are correct for the new images), from anyother computer when i type "ping -a IPADDRESSOFCLTIMG" i get resolved back "ORIGINALIMG" (being the image i copied to rollout to client machines) and the ip address of the CLTIMG box.

Sorry if i am not very clear, but when resolving from it self, the CLTIMG thinks everything is ok. When resolving netbios from another computer it gives me the wrong computername.

I did go through pretty much nbtstat had to aoffer me budman and to confuse me even further when i typed "nbtstat -a CLTIMGIPADDRESS" i get the CORRECT netbios name returned to me.

in the cache if the CLTIMG i get nothing the domain name (which is wierd as i shudnt have any entries here is my netbios is disabled) and nbtstat -n gives me once again my correct computer name.

Interesting no?

I am thinkning along the lines that sysprep itself didnt quite work as supposed to rather then any configuration errors. What is your line of thniking budman? and others ofcourse?

Thanks guys and sorry again about the late reply

I've built plenty of machines and joined them to a domain for tweaking before ghosting, BUT I always remove them from the domain and remove the comp account in AD prior to actually making the image. I havent seen any odd issues form doing so and usually use sysprep to have them prompt for a new name prior to joining the domain on first boot after applying the image...

The problem as it sounds to me is more of a DNS issue than a workstation issue... Maybe try removing the DNS entry for the particular machine that your pinging then renew the IP of that machine and have a new DNS record created. Then of course ping it from somethign else... OR, maybe remove the problem machine from the domain, remove the comp account in AD, rename it and rejoin the domain... Either of these will basically allow DHCP to update DNS with a new record for that machine, and hopefully resolve your problem.

ok that could be the problem, the fact that i DONT remove the computer from the domain b4 sysprep-ing. I was under the assumption that a reseal on sysprep was the equivalent of "making the system ready to be used by end users", and therefore assumed all naming and domain membership was revoke and nullified before sysprep was finshed its job. As well as re-sid-ing.

Now ill have to test this tomorrow, but just a thought. I too, have built plenty of computers, it seems in error with my mistake regarding the domain. But i have now in a prodcution environemnt 95% of my images running well. As in NOT WITH THIS PROBLEM. i dont feel that my procedure this time was any different from the other systems i have built then imaged.

I called micro$oft, with a capital SOFT, and i explained my issue, as soon as i mentioned "3rd party deployment application" they washed theirs hands of the problem and said "we cant guarentee anything with 3rd party products".

As for UnaBonger, the records i have delted and to no avail, the first post actually refers to new ip lease and that was no dice either.

Im back wit the results, I did create a new image with removing the domain, this didnt seem to fix it.

I have recoursed back to creating a brand new installation of XP from my custom install CD. Customised, removed from domain as suggested in this thread and imaged. This works.

Unfortunatley i cannot pin point the problem, but a work around will do until i get more time to investigate. Thanks for all your help guys with this issue.

Sincerley

Amfony

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Ouch, man.. Hope you can get a replacement for that..
    • They just need to add a transparency slider. I’d prefer a middle ground where everything is transparent, but background items are blurred.
    • A guy messaged me yesterday wanting to talk on the phone, it turns out his friend messaged on "marktplaats" a day earlier asking what my lowest price was (€1650). After talking for a bit about it (he says he has no experience with computers and is relying on his friend) and then confirming with his friend, he messaged me he wanted to pick it up today. They both came today to check it out, and pick it up. SOLD. I prefer it this way rather than having to cannibalize it to sell for parts.
    • Was taking the side glass panel off because I want to install the AORUS X870E Master GPU holder, and while I had the glass side panel in my hands the front one decided to take a kamikaze dive. Now I hope they sell the glass fronts separately, or I am screwed. I'll probably be finding bits of glass for weeks now  😅
    • Yeh, I think you'll find there wasn't much legit savings from what he did. Any chump can fire a bunch of people indiscriminately from positions and services that don't impact that person. At the end of the day, it just means that services that are essential in any functional democracy, won't be able to operate because there are no people to deliver those services. Sure, it "saves" money on paper, but like most short sighted bean counters, there are very real, and expensive impacts later on down the track. Did you know that by buying 2x toothbrush's and a tube of toothpaste every year, and seeing the dentist every 6 months would cost you about $400 a year? So by the time you're in your 30's that would be $12000 of cost! Now imagine if you didn't spend any of that $12000 on preventative oral health care! Wow, so much more money! But you also needed to have several root canals at $1500 per tooth. Plus the time off work for being unable to function with the pain. So lets face it, that initial cost is worth it!
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Simmo3D earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Simmo3D earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      greege earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      greege earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      LagFighterZ earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      547
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      230
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      166
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      119
    5. 5
      +Edouard
      91
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!