SMS: NetWare Clients Do Not Show NetBIOS Machine Name (200730)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP1
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP2
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP3
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP4
This article was previously published under Q200730

SYMPTOMS

Novell NetWare uses IPX as the default network protocol. NetWare does not use NetBIOS machine names for client identification purposes; NetWare uses the ID of the user who is logged on and the computer (MAC) address of the Network Information Center instead. Consequently, it is possible to have duplicate machine names on the network in a NetWare environment. Therefore, when a NetWare client computer becomes a Systems Management Server client, the ID data that is used is indeed the MAC address.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Systems Management Server version 1.2 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date         Time         Size     File name    Platform
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   06/07/2001   03:45 P.M.   8,1012   Invdos.exe   Intel
NOTE: Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix or feature that contains the above files may also contain additional files.


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem and have the computers report their NetBIOS machine names to the Systems Management Server administrator console, use one of the following methods:
  • Have the clients log on to Microsoft Windows NT, or LAN Manager Domain controller by using a NetBIOS-compatible transport such as TCP/IP or NetBEUI.
  • For Microsoft Windows 3.1, Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Microsoft Windows 95, or Microsoft Windows 98 clients, use the /M switch for Invdos.exe to specify the client's machine identifier (machine name). If the fix that this article describes is not applied, the user must manually enter the machine name at the time that Invdos.exe is run (during logon) to use the /M switch. The fix that this article describes updates the /M switch functionality to optionally allow a user to specify a machine identifier on the command line for Invdos.exe. To specify a machine name on the command line, append the machine name that you want to use to the /M switch when you call Invdos.exe. This allows you to use an environment variable that contains a machine-specific identifier to override the default SMS identifier convention (MAC address).

    NOTE: When you use this method to override the default naming convention, make sure that each computer receives a unique identifier to prevent duplication in the SMS database.

    The following command line is the correct usage:

    INVDOS /Mmachine_name

    NOTE: Do not include a space between the /M switch and the machine name that you want to use.

    The following code is sample usage in SMSLS script that identifies the client with the value in the environment variable "MACHINENAME" on that client: 
    setls%SMS_OS% -m:E -i -p:%SMS_BIN%\INVDOS.EXE -pa:/m%MACHINENAME% -pa:/l:%%SMS_UNC%%\ -pa:/i -pa:%SMS_VERBOSE%
    NOTE: The use of the /pa: switch is required for the Setls.exe command line to indicate to Setls that the data that follows is an argument for Invdos.exe, and not for Setls itself. For additional information about the Setls.exe or Invdos.exe command-line options, see chapter 2 of the SMS Resource Guide.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2.

MORE INFORMATION

The fix that this article describes updates the /M switch functionality to allow a machine identifier to be specified optionally on the command line for Invdos.exe
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/7/2006
Keywords:kbQFE KBHotfixServer kbBug kbfix kbnetwork kbsetup kbsmsAdmin KB200730
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