[gPXE] sanbootconf hostname setting

[Shao Miller]

Michael Brown wrote:
>
> ...However, I think it
> would be useful if sanbootconf could store the hostname *somewhere* in the
> registry; this would allow a user who wants auto-renaming machines to
> implement it without requiring specific knowledge of the iBFT.
>

Agreed.  A good place might be in sanbootconf's registry key, 
Parameters\ subkey.

> ...Do you know if Windows separates the concepts of "computer name" 
> and "TCP/IP
> hostname"?
>

The TCP/IP hostname is what you see in a few areas:
- 'ipconfig /all'
- My Computer -> Properties -> Computer Name tab

When manually hacking the TCP/IP hostname, you might see the following 
error event in the Event Viewer's System Event Log:

-----
Attempt to update DNS Host Name of the computer object in Active 
Directory failed. The updated value was 'foo.xxx.yyy.net'. The following 
error occurred:
The parameter is incorrect.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at 
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
-----

However, the hostname does indeed get registered with DNS if the 
corresponding check-mark is set for the network adapter.  An 
*.in-addr.arpa 'dig' confirms the reverse-lookup registration, as the 
previous hostname DNS registration appears to be removed.

The computer's SYSTEM account still appears to have access to domain 
network resources (such as shares) with the TCP/IP hostname hacked, but 
the AD computer account's name is not changed, possibly due to the error 
mentioned above.  I wouldn't think that's really a Good Thing.

There's also the whole NetBIOS name business... :S

> ...As a related question, when Windows uses DHCP, does it honour DHCP 
> option 12
> in any way?
>

A look at HKLM\SYSTEM\CCS\Services\Dhcp\Parameters\Options\ suggests 
that Windows does not use DHCP option 12 ("hostname") at all.  In there, 
we find the options that the DHCP client service makes a note of in the 
Tcpip service's Parameters\ key.  A look around here[1] and here[2] seem 
to confirm that.

- Shao Miller

[1] http://support.microsoft.com/kb/121005
[2] http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc958941.aspx
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