Configure MDT 2013 for UserExit Scripts

Applies To: Windows 8.1

In this topic, you will learn how to configure the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 rules engine to use a UserExit script to generate computer names based on a prefix and the computer MAC Address. MDT 2013 supports calling external VBScripts as part of the Gather process; these scripts are referred to as UserExit scripts. The script also removes the colons in the MAC Address.

In this topic

• Configure the rules to call a UserExit script

• The Setname.vbs UserExit script

See also

• Set Up MDT 2013 for BitLocker

• Configure MDT Deployment Share Rules

• Simulate a Windows 8.1 Deployment in a Test Environment

• Use the MDT Database to Stage Windows 8.1 Deployment Information

• Assign Applications Using Roles in MDT 2013

• Use Web Services in MDT 2013

• Use Orchestrator Runbooks with MDT 2013

Configure the rules to call a UserExit script

You can call a UserExit by referencing the script in your rules. Then you can configure a property to be set to the result of a function of the VBScript. In this example, we have a VBScript named Setname.vbs (provided in the book sample files, in the UserExit folder).

[Settings]
Priority=Default
[Default]
OSINSTALL=YES
UserExit=Setname.vbs
OSDComputerName=#SetName("%MACADDRESS%")#

The UserExit=Setname.vbs calls the script and then assigns the computer name to what the SetName function in the script returns. In this sample the %MACADDRESS% variable is passed to the script

The Setname.vbs UserExit script

The Setname.vbs script takes the MAC Address passed from the rules. The script then does some string manipulation to add a prefix (PC) and remove the semicolons from the MAC Address.

Function UserExit(sType, sWhen, sDetail, bSkip) 
  UserExit = Success 
End Function 
Function SetName(sMac)
  Dim re
  Set re = new RegExp
  re.IgnoreCase = true
  re.Global = true
  re.Pattern = ":"
  SetName = "PC" & re.Replace(sMac, "")
End Function

The first three lines of the script make up a header that all UserExit scripts have. The interesting part is the lines between Function and End Function. Those lines add a prefix (PC), remove the colons from the MAC Address, and return the value to the rules by setting the SetName value.