Meraki switch client ID / Hostname

[CedricMX]

Hello Team,

On my MS210 switch i can see some windows dell computers with their hostname in the switch port description.

But for some computers i can see that the port  descrption is populated with a client ID like this : ae35989b-b677-438e-91ef-d65b245dcef5.

Is it because the computer is connected to the meraki swithc trough a little unmanaged switch or do we have to configure the network card of the computer ?

Many thanks for your reply !

[alemabrahao]

This usually appears when, the switch receives a DHCP Client Identifier instead of a hostname, the device is behind an unmanaged switch, which can obscure hostname resolution or the network card or OS is configured to send a UUID-style client ID instead of a hostname.

[CedricMX]

so the solution is to remove the unmanaged switch that obscure hostname resolution ?

[RaphaelL]

No , this is because Meraki prefers to identify clients with mDNS. Your client is sending mDNS packets containing a GUID. 

This was discussed many times over the years : https://community.meraki.com/t5/Security-SD-WAN/Computer-name-not-displaying-properly-in-Description...

[RWelch]

If you were to click on the client with the long string you should be able to change the name by clicking on the pencil and putting whatever name you wish for this device.  

Or you can set a DHCP reservation with the client device's MAC address and put a friendly name.

Either way you can adjust the UUID client ID to a more friendly name.  The DHCP reservation would likely offer the best approach if this particular device connects to the network on a routine basis while it might seem like a bit more manual work upfront it will keep your device names cleaner (long term).