rename a computer that is bound to AD

@osxadmin I'm not 100% certain what the consequences are to AD if you just rename the computer with unbinding first. So what I do is:

1. Unbind the Mac
2. Rename the Mac
3. Bind the Mac again
4. Recon the Mac

You can accomplish this via Self Service if you wanted. You could use a script to do it all, using AppleScript or CocoaDialog to grab what the new name would be from the user. By using a script you can pass the AD credentials needed to unbind via parameters.

@stevewood got it thank you, would you mind sharing your scripts for that process?

@stevewood thank you for your help, I really appreciated!

Here's an Applescript version that does all 3 names. It also writes out to the terminal.

#!/bin/bash
clear

# FYI, the END) and END has to be the first thing on the line, no tabs or spaces before it.

# if not running from the jss, make this sudo=sudo, otherwise leave it sudo=
sudo=sudo


oldCompNames="ComputerName: $(scutil --get ComputerName)
"
oldCompNames=$oldCompNames"HostName: $(scutil --get HostName)
"
oldCompNames=$oldCompNames"LocalHostName: $(scutil --get LocalHostName)"

for (( ; ; )) #only using loop to exit early on invalid entries.
do

    #APPLESCRIPT TEXT
    dialogText="Enter the new Computer Name.
Old ones were...
$oldCompNames
"
    printf "$dialogText"
    #APPLESCRIPT PROMPT
    newCompName=$(/usr/bin/osascript<<END
    tell application "System Events"
        activate
        set the answer to text returned of (display dialog "$dialogText" default answer "" buttons {"Continue"})
    end tell
END)

    if [ ! "$newCompName" ]; then
        #APPLESCRIPT TEXT
        dialogText="!!! The new Computer Name is required. Try Again. !!!
"
        printf "$dialogText"
        #APPLESCRIPT PROMPT
        /usr/bin/osascript<<END
        tell application "System Events"
            activate
            display dialog "$dialogText" buttons {"Continue"}
        end tell
END
    else

        #do the work if passed all the error checks

        #APPLESCRIPT TEXT
        dialogText="Thank you. Click continue and wait while I perform the actions...

"
        printf "$dialogText"
        #APPLESCRIPT PROMPT
        /usr/bin/osascript<<END
        tell application "System Events"
            activate
            display dialog "$dialogText" buttons {"Continue"}
        end tell
END

        #rename mac
        printf "Setting mac name to $newCompName...
"
        newCompName="$(echo $newCompName | tr '[a-z]' '[A-Z]')" #making uppercase
        $sudo scutil --set ComputerName "$newCompName"
        $sudo scutil --set HostName "$newCompName"
        $sudo scutil --set LocalHostName "$newCompName"
        printf "
"

        #unbind/rebind AD
        printf "Unbinding/Rebinding mac to AD...
"
        $sudo jamf policy -id 143 # our policy that unbinds and rebinds to AD

# THIS IS THE UNBIND PART OF POLICY 143. THE BIND IS DIRECTLY IN THE POLICY ###########
#       #sees if already on domain. prevents error if already off domain.
#       isDomain=$(/usr/sbin/dsconfigad -show | grep '= domain'| awk '{print $4}')
#       if [ "$isDomain" == "domain" ]; then
#           echo "On domain."
#           echo "Unbinding the computer from Active Directory..."
#           dsconfigad -remove -force -username "$username" -password "$password"
#       else
#           echo "Not on domain."
#       fi
###########################################################################################


        #updating jamf
        printf "Updating JAMF...
"
        $sudo jamf recon

        printf "
"
        break #get out of the loop
    fi

done

#APPLESCRIPT TEXT
dialogText="Finished. Goodbye.
"
printf "$dialogText"
#APPLESCRIPT PROMPT
/usr/bin/osascript<<END
tell application "System Events"
    activate
    display dialog "$dialogText" buttons {"Continue"}
end tell
END

@luke.reagor Thank you!