I can't change netbios name and workgroup

Following the almost always helpful JAMF public discussion pages - see this entry:

Script to Change workgroup - Jamf Nation

I tried forcing the Workgroup entry of /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server.plist to a new name using both /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy and the defaults terminal mode command. Both commands did work. I confirm this with the Print command of PlistBuddy For example with PlistBuddy my session looked like:

% sudo /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server.plist

Command: Print

Dict {

ServerDescription = Fred’s MacBook Pro

NetBIOSName = FREDS-MACBOOK

AllowGuestAccess = false

LocalKerberosRealm = LKDC:SHA1.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Workgroup = WORKGROUP

DOSCodePage = 437

}

Command: set :Workgroup NEWNAME

Command: Save

Saving...

Command: Print

Dict {

ServerDescription = Fred’s MacBook Pro

NetBIOSName = FREDS-MACBOOK

AllowGuestAccess = false

LocalKerberosRealm = LKDC:SHA1.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Workgroup = NEWNAME

DOSCodePage = 437

}

Command: Exit

I also succeeded in changing the Workgroup entry value with the a defaults command like this:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server Workgroup "NEWNAME"

However even though after rebooting and confirming that the Workgroup entry showed NEWNAME, the WINS tab in the network control panel still showed WORKGROUP.

So it looks like High Sierra really changed something here because the JAMF post was from 2011 and apparently this kept working since since there are no further comments mentioning problems.

In rereading my text, I see was unclear in what I wrote at the beginning of my entry. While the commands worked to set the Workgroup entry, they did not change the value shown on the WINS tab. I apologize for not being clear.

I have the same issue. What I have noticed that I can change the workgroup name using /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy and persist it but after rebooting it gets overwritten and I'm back to what it was before i.e workgroup.

When I login and print the /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server.plist I can see the correct value for about 15 seconds.