Maintaining NETBIOS Names in 7 to C Transitions

This is very simple!

Note 1: It’s not the place of this blog to question why one may want to keep NETBIOS names.

Note 2: Version of Clustered Data ONTAP is 8.3.2.

Scenario 1: Maintaining NETBIOS in a 1-1 Transition

We’re transitioning one 7-Mode pFiler/vFiler to one cDOT SVM. Post cutover of the 7-Mode filer, we want to maintain the old NETBIOS name. The 7-Mode system is called FAS101 and has a CIFS server called FAS101. The cDOT cluster is clu1, and an SVM exists called FAS101 and has a CIFS server called FAS101-NEW.

Post cutover; terminate CIFS on the 7-Mode FAS101.

FAS101> cifs terminate

Terminate CIFS on the cDOT SVM. Enter diag mode and modify the CIFS server’s NETBIOS name (requires domain administrative account.)

clu1::> cifs server modify -vserver FAS101 -status-admin down

clu1::> set d

clu1::*> cifs server modify -vserver FAS101 -cifs-server FAS101

In order to create an Active Directory machine account for the CIFS server, you must supply the name and password of a Windows account with sufficient privileges to add computers to the "CN=Computers" container within the "LAB.PRIV" domain.

Enter the user name: administrator

Enter the password:

Warning: An account by this name already exists in Active Directory at CN=FAS101,CN=Computers,DC=lab,DC=priv

Ok to reuse this account? {y|n}: y

That’s it!

Note: The CIFS server is automatically set status-admin up after the rename.

Roll back?

If we had to roll back, on the cluster we rename the CIFS server back to what it was:

clu1::*> cifs server modify -vserver FAS101 -status-admin down

clu1::*> cifs server modify -vserver FAS101 -cifs-server FAS101-NEW

Then we re-run cifs setup on the 7-Mode system to get it back on the domain (the output below has been abridged):

FAS101> cifs setup

Do you want to continue and change the current filer account information? [n]: y

(1) Keep the current WINS configuration

Selection (1-3)? 1

This filer is currently configured as a multiprotocol filer. Would you like to reconfigure this filer to be an NTFS-only filer? n

The default name for this CIFS server is 'FAS101'.

Would you like to change this name? n

(1) Active Directory domain authentication (Active Directory domains only)

Selection (1-4)?  1

What is the name of the Active Directory domain? LAB.PRIV

Would you like to configure time services? y

Enter the time server host(s) and/or address(es)? LAB.PRIV

Would you like to specify additional time servers? n

Enter the name of the Windows user [Administrator@LAB.PRIV]:

Password for Administrator@LAB.PRIV:

CIFS - Logged in as Administrator@LAB.PRIV.

An account that matches the name 'FAS101' already exists in Active Directory: 'cn=fas101,cn=computers,dc=lab,dc=priv'. This is normal if you are re-running CIFS Setup. You may continue by using this account or changing the name of this CIFS server.

Do you want to re-use this machine account? y

CIFS - Starting SMB protocol...

Scenario 2: Maintaining NETBIOS in Multi-1 Transitions

If we’re consolidating pFilers/vFilers to one SVM, but still want to keep the NETBIOS names, this is where add-netbios-aliases comes in:

clu1::> cifs server add-netbios-aliases -vserver FAS101 -netbios-aliases FAS102,FAS103,FAS104,FAS105

clu1::> cifs server show -vserver FAS101 -fields netbios-aliases,cifs-server

vserver cifs-server netbios-aliases

------- ----------- ---------------------------

FAS101  FAS101      FAS102,FAS103,FAS104,FAS105