Name Assistant
Description
Name Assistant makes it easy to bulk-add large numbers of computers to a configured Mac OS X directory services directory, and name and number them appropriately.
Simply copy the application to a network account and set it to launch at login, then login to each computer to be named as that user.
From here you can collect the MAC addresses of all computers and number them, before adding them to the directory.
If you apply the "Name computer based on directory name" option in Workgroup Manager upon reboot the computers will automatically begin using the name set using Name Assistant.
Requirements
- Client software only tested on 10.6 though I believe it works on 10.5 but cannot add computers to groups.
- Will work with any directory server that the client OS supports. OpenDirectory 10.4 - 10.7 should be fine and ActiveDirectory should work too if configured properly, though untested.
Detailed setup and management
Coming soon...
Known Issues
- Adding computers to ComputerGroup only works on 10.6 at the moment
- Once a client has connected to a Name Assistant Master it will not reconnect to that master or any other master until the program is relaunched
- If a master crashes it might take 5 mins for it's Bonjour net service to dissapear off the local area network. Clients might be unable to connect to a master until the record has dissapeared
- Next number is always 0 until the first number is allocated
- The statusbar at the bottom of the master window isn't accurate
- Resetting the clients using the master does not reset the "next number" display
- Incorrect directory admin credentials results in a dsimport error code 65
Todo
- Change background color of window depending on status
- When selecting a computer in the list view, make it's background color go blue
Comments
Please submit any questions/bugs/suggestions using the form below - I like feedback.