How can I import computers into SCCM 2012 using a file ?

[anyweb 411]

if you want to import multiple computers in SCCM 2012 using a file then it's easy to do so, just make sure that your file is in CSV format and looks like so

 

 

In the sample screenshot above I have three machines listed with the Computername first (name), followed by the SMSBIOS Guid and finally the MAC Address. You can get the SMSBIOS Guid and MAC Address simply booting your chosen computer and monitoring the PXE boot process look for the details below (press PAUSE on your keyboard to make note of the values or simply pause the VM by pressing the appropriate button as in the HyperV sample below). You could also ask your Hardware Manufacturer to provide you this information in CSV format.

 

 

 

Now that you have the values add them to your MAC Addresses.CSV file (a text file in notepad or Microsoft Excel) open the ConfigMgr Console and click on Assets and Compliance, click on Devices, in the ribbon above select Import Computer Information

 

 

select the first option, Import computers using a file

 

 

point to your CSV file by clicking on browse, open

 

 

if your CSV file has headings at the top of the file then place a check mark in This file has column headings and then click next

 

 

look at the data preview, if anything looks incorrect you can go back or cancel, click next if it's all ok

 

Note: you can have GUID plus Name, or MAC plus Name, or a combination of all three but you must have at least two and one of the values must be Name.

 

 

 

next you can select the target collection, I want to add mine to the Build and Capture Windows 7 X64 collection so I click on Browse and select that collection, choose the one you wish

 

 

click next through to completion

 

 

you can then wait for normal discovery to pick up the new objects or force an update by choosing update membership on the chosen collection, answer yes whem prompted

 

 

refresh the collection and the computers appear (if you've just imported them, give it a couple of minutes before they appear)

 

[gossymg 0]

Do you need the SMSBIOS GUID? Or can you get away with just the computer name and MAC? Thanks!

[anyweb 411]

computername and mac is fine,

 

you can have GUID plus ComputerName

or MAC plus ComputerName

or a combination of all three

[davidhowell 0]

Is it not possible to create a collection only based on computer names? I have a list of 600 plus computers that I need to create a collection from and only have the names.

[davidhowell 0]

Hello? Anyone?

[dylan93 0]

Hello? Anyone?

 

Did you try to only use a computer name and see what System Center does ?

 

Anyway, I tested it and yes it is possible, only provide the names in it like this:

 

Name
<NAME1>
<NAME2>

 

Make sure you have This file has column headings turned on.

[davidhowell 0]

Did you try to only use a computer name and see what System Center does ?

 

Anyway, I tested it and yes it is possible, only provide the names in it like this:

 

Name
<NAME1>
<NAME2>

 

Make sure you have This file has column headings turned on.

 

Very odd. I keep getting an error pop up saying "Specify MAC address or SMBIOS value of the imported machines"

 

No way to get past this message either.

 

Any ideas?

[anyweb 411]

can you post of a screenshot of what values you entered

[davidhowell 0]

Here's a shot from the Import Computer Information wizard...

 

 

Here's the result after I click "Next"...

 

[anyweb 411]

you need to specify NAME and MAC ADDRESS or NAME and SMSBIO GUID, you must have at least two

[davidhowell 0]

Did you try to only use a computer name and see what System Center does ?

 

Anyway, I tested it and yes it is possible, only provide the names in it like this:

 

Name
<NAME1>
<NAME2>

 

Make sure you have This file has column headings turned on.

you need to specify NAME and MAC ADDRESS or NAME and SMSBIO GUID, you must have at least two

 

Ok...contrary reports here...

[anyweb 411]

Ok...contrary reports here...

 

sorry, where are there contrary reports ?

[davidhowell 0]

sorry, where are there contrary reports ?

 

I quoted you and dylan99. He said that it can be done just using the computer name.

 

So honestly, unlike previous SCCM versions, we really can't create a collection based only on computer names anymore?

[neel436 0]

guys, i have imported computer information and also created the source computer details. once done, i can go into USM view and can see the computer association. once i start the new computer and deploy the OS, the USM kicks into action, however, a new association is created in User State Migration where the source and destination computer names are the same. i do not want this, as i have already created the association when importing the computer into sccm. how can i avoid this?

[japijap 0]

Hi anyweb,

 

once again another great tutorial!

 

My question: Is it possible to give the PC's the device name in this way? E.g. if I have a PC without an OS and I want to name it...can I do it by importing the computer via a csv file and set the name in it or do I have to use a task sequence to name every single PC?

 

The disadvantage by setting the name via task sequence is that I have to type it in every time when I want deploy a OS,right?

[anyweb 411]

you can set the name in lots of ways, via the CSV file is one way indeed, what are you looking for exactly ?

[japijap 0]

I have around 100 new PCs which I want to manage with SCCM 2012 in the future (within this month) and every single device needs a specific device name. The plan is to deploy a captured image to the devices.

 

My question: Is the given name in the csv file automatically the device name in Windows?

 

I am searching the best way to name the devices.

[Peter33 44]

Hi japijap,

 

no, the name from you csv file will not be used during the OSD.

You can either script this and read the name from the file, or use the MDT database to apply the name (if you have MDT integrated).

[japijap 0]

I don't use MDT....

 

The way to name a device which I know so far is to create a task sequence:

 

http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?/topic/5542-how-can-i-easily-prompt-for-a-computer-name-in-configuration-manager-2012/

 

And afaik I only need to name a device once right? When I deploy the image once again it will migrate the device name. So I am only interessted in naming a device with non running OS.

[Peter van der Woude 143]

When you are not doing anything with the OSDComputerName variable it will use the name that you supplied during the import of the machine(s).

[japijap 0]

That means I can name the devices by importing the machines with an CSV (which contains name, GUID,MAC). Right? I am a bit confused.

 

What is the easiest way to name 100 devices which are not yet imported in Configuration Manager?

[contactarvi 0]

How can I import computers from xls, csv or txt file in to a direct membership collection. I need to copy about 150 computers (already available in a collection) from a report to a new collection. Selecting one by one and manually adding to the desired collection will be a difficult task. Please help.

[Peter van der Woude 143]

Look at PowerShell. You can use it to read the CSV and create membership rules via the cmdlet Add-CMDeviceCollectionDirectMembershipRule.