Binding to Active Directory during imaging clears the Computer Name field

I've seen this on a few systems. The computer name ends up becoming ".localhost" in the casper inventory report. The symptoms "disappeared" before I could dig into it. No changed have been made to the JSS version level or AD binding script in months, so what caused it and what cured it on my end is a mystery. I wish I could be more helpful than a "I've seen that too" post, sorry!

That's correct, 8.64 is supposed to fix this issue, we are running the "fix" on 8.63 and below as part of our imaging routine.

Thanks for the responses guys. I am new to Casper and would like to try the script mentioned. What type of script is used? Thanks.

Thanks KBailey! I created a terminal script out that and set it to After and now the machine images, joins the domain, and the computer name is not wiped causing localhost to show in JSS. Awesome! Thanks guys.

dexterrivera what did your script look like? I would like to also write a script that will have a machine join our domain after it has been reimaged.

Here is a bash script that I wrote for post-deployment AD binding / re-binding...

You can run it manually or as part of a post-install process.

Note 1 - I use the extension ".command" so my technicians can double-click on it and just have it launch from the GUI.

Note 2 - Make sure you have proper chmod settings to allow execution (i.e. 755, etc.).

Note 3 - I had to "sanitize" this script for public consumption. Please make the appropriate changes to meet your needs where necessary.

#!/bin/sh

# bind_to_active_directory.command shell script
# Written by Caine Hörr, July 10, 2013
# Updated by Caine Hörr, June 23, 2014


######################################################################
# BEGIN MAIN SCRIPT
######################################################################

# CLEAR SCREEN
clear

# MAIN SCRIPT OPENING STATEMENT / SPLASH PAGE
echo "######################################################################"
echo "# ACTIVE DIRECTORY COMPUTER NAME BIND AND REBIND SCRIPT"
echo "######################################################################"
echo

echo
echo "This script will un-bind this system's current computer name from"
echo "Active Directory and allow you to re-bind it back to Active Directory"
echo "with a new hostname."
echo

echo
echo "CURRENT ACTIVE DIRECTORY COMPUTER NAME: "
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
dsconfigad -show | grep -i "Computer Account"
echo

# PROMPT TO CONTINUE OR EXIT SCRIPT
echo 
echo "DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE?"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
select yn in "Yes" "No"; do
    case $yn in
        Yes) echo "# Change Computer Name and Hostname"; break;;
        No) echo "# Quit"; exit;;
    esac
done
echo

echo
echo "UNBINDING SYSTEM FROM ACTIVE DIRECTORY"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
read -p "Enter your Technician Admin (i.e. first.last.adm) Username: " ADAdminUser
echo
echo
echo "Enter password for $(echo $USER): "
sudo dsconfigad -remove -username $ADAdminUser
echo

echo
echo "BINDING SYSTEM TO ACTIVE DIRECTORY WITH NEW COMPUTER NAME"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
read -p "Enter new Computer Name to assign to system: " ComputerName
echo
echo "Be patient. This can take some time..."
echo
sudo dsconfigad -add CHANGE_TO_YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com -username $ADAdminUser -computer $ComputerName -mobile enable -mobileconfirm disenable -shell /bin/bash -ou "ou=mac,ou=workstations,ou=computers,ou=CHANGE_TO_YOUR_OU,dc=CHANGE_TO_YOUR_DC,dc=com" -group "domain admins,enterprise admins,IT-HelpDesk"
echo

echo
echo "CONFIRMING SYSTEM IS BOUND TO ACTIVE DIRECTORY WITH UPDATED INFO"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
dsconfigad -show | grep -i "Computer Account"
echo

echo
echo "SETTING SYSTEM NAME VALUES"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "Setting computer hostname value to $ComputerName"
sudo scutil --set HostName $ComputerName
echo "Setting computer local name value to $ComputerName"
sudo scutil --set ComputerName $ComputerName
echo "Setting computer local (Bonjour) name value to $ComputerName"
sudo scutil --set LocalHostName $ComputerName
echo

echo
echo "VALIDATING SYSTEM NAME VALUES"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "Validating computer hostname value..."
scutil --get HostName
echo "Validating computer local name value..."
scutil --get ComputerName
echo "Validating computer local (Bonjour) name value..."
scutil --get LocalHostName
echo

echo
echo "UPDATING THE JSS"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo
sudo jamf recon
echo

echo
echo "PROCESS COMPLETE. EXITING SCRIPT."
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo

exit 0

Note to my last post - if you run my script as a post-install process, you will need to comment out the section for prompts. You will need to find another way to automatically set the value of $ComputerName based on whatever criteria your organizations requires.

@Hörr : Does your script delete itself post execution? we would require this to be a one time process post imaging since we would not like unbind and bind every time a Mac boots. Is there a way where we can extract computer names from AD and name them before binding?