Automatic Computer Name Generator Does Not "Zero Fill" Numbers

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This article was previously published under Q223194

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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.

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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.