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fabio56 Author

Level 1

9 points

High Sierra - Can't change NETBIOS name

Hi,

I have a problem in my LAN. My MacBookAir has these correct settings:

scutil --get ComputerName

MacBook Air di Fabio

scutil --get HostName

Air-di-Fabio

scutil --get LocalHostName

MacBook-Air-di-Fabio

But in the Advanced Network Preferences, I have a NetBios name of: Saltydog-A3 (which is the hostname of my smartphone on the LAN).

I can't change that NetBios Name as it appears stuck. Every time I try to change it, it reverts back to the smartphone name.

If I connect with ssh to my media center, I always get this message:

Last login: Sat Oct 21 11:18:49 2017 from saltydog-a3.station

My router, instead, lists the correct HostName of the LAN.

Any help?

Thanks

MacBook Air, macOS High Sierra (10.13)

Posted on Oct 21, 2017 2:58 AM

Top-ranking reply

Alberto Ravasio

Level 5

4,291 points

Posted on Oct 24, 2017 6:39 AM

fabio56 wrote:

What difference between isolating the Mac from the network or switching off the VSR? Maybe you meant to make a reboot to VSR to test it? I'll do later, as there are other users connected.

You can reboot if you prefer.

I have connected to a VPN (with Tunnelblick) to join a remote server. Once connected I had a look at the NetBios Name and.. voilà it was "MAC-DI-FABIO". Disconnecting from the VPN, the name was back to Saltydog-A3

You now understand why in my opinion is the Vodafone station the cause. Not because it is broken. Maybe the DNS service has gone crazy and a reboot will bring all services in order.

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28 replies

bh8er

Level 1

26 points

Oct 21, 2017 4:01 PM in response to fabio56

System Preferences - Sharing, Computer Name perhaps?

fabio56 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 22, 2017 12:53 AM in response to bh8er

No. That's ok either.

Oct 22, 2017 12:58 AM in response to fabio56

Has the media center, DNS service enabled?

fabio56 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 22, 2017 1:14 AM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Alberto, the problem is in the Mac, not in the media-center. All devices in the LAN get the DNS resolution from the router.

Oct 22, 2017 1:27 AM in response to fabio56

What does return the command

plutil -p /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server.plist

fabio56 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 23, 2017 1:51 AM in response to Barney-15E

Yes, I tried that too last week, but unfortunately it doesn't apply to High Sierra and it didn't work. Thank you anyway!

Oct 23, 2017 11:02 AM in response to fabio56

I guess you already tried setting the computer name from the command line

scutil --set ComputerName whateveryouwant

fabio56 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 23, 2017 11:14 AM in response to Alberto Ravasio

scutil --get ComputerName

MacBook Air di Fabio

Oct 23, 2017 2:37 PM in response to fabio56

Please change "Nome computer:" from MacBook Air di Fabio to

MB Air di Fabio

and tell me if NetBIOS name turned into MB-AIR-DI-FABIO

I'll tell you why in the next post.

Oct 23, 2017 2:48 PM in response to fabio56

NetBIOS name will probably be the same after you renamed the computer to MB Air di Fabio

that is SALTYDOG-A3

bh8er

Level 1

26 points

Oct 24, 2017 12:46 AM in response to fabio56

If it is any consolation I tried that suggestion too and My Netbios name remains unchanged. Thankfully it is of no problem to me as far as I am aware (yet).

Oct 24, 2017 4:40 AM in response to fabio56

Sorry. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. What I meant it wasn't turn off Wi-Fi on the computer, but turn off the Vodafone station altogether.

Oct 24, 2017 7:41 AM in response to fabio56

I'm glad to have been useful.

Now I understand why you like so much the command line 😉

High Sierra - Can't change NETBIOS name