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Level 2

299 points

Computer name keeps getting (2) appended to it.

I've searched high and low and can't seem to figure out why my iMac thinks the computer name is already being used on the network.

I can see in the sharing preference pane that the original name is what is indicated with this copy:

Computers on your local network can access your computer at: XXXXX.local

However, the name in the field above it has XXXXX (2) and each time I try to get rid of the (2) I get the message:

The name of your computer “XXXXX” is already in use on this network. The name has been changed to “XXXXX (2)”

I can change the name using the EDIT button to anything else I want, and it doesn't add the (2). But once I change it back to my desired computer name, I get the same message that it's already being used.

I've tried turning off all of my sharing services but that still doesn't seem to allow the name to be used.

Any idea what other process is running that can be using the name? How do I figure out where the conflict is occurring?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 6, 2012 9:43 AM

77 replies

May 6, 2012 1:54 PM in response to Ken Loh

OK.

Please report here the result of the following Terminal command

host 192.168.1.x

change x with the IP address of your iMac

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 6, 2012 2:08 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Here's the results:

Host xx.1.168.192.in-addr.arpa. not found: 3(NXDOMAIN)

Ethernet and Wifi have 2 different IP addresses and the result was the same for both. I just used xx in place of the two distinct numbers in the result above.

May 6, 2012 2:16 PM in response to Ken Loh

From Terminal issue

ping -c3 XXXXX.local

you'll get something like this

ping -c3 XXXXX.local

PING XXXXX.local (192.168.1.x): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from 192.168.1.x: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=0.042 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.x: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.073 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.x: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.071 ms

The computer with IP (192.168.1.x) has the name XXXXX.local. Is that the IP of your iMac?

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 6, 2012 2:36 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

After the ping command, the results indicated the IP address that my WIFI is using for that computer.

I had turned WIFI on previously since I was planning on logging on to the computer using WIFI devices, but I realize this is not necessary so I just turned it off to see if that was causing some of the problems.

Once turned off, I tried the ping command again, and now it is indicating the IP address that Ethernet is using for the computer. However, I still cannot change the Computer Name with WIFI turned off. Same results.

May 6, 2012 2:42 PM in response to Ken Loh

Leave WiFi turned off.

Restart the computer. Try chaging the name again.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 6, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Ken Loh

Ken Loh wrote:

After the ping command, the results indicated the IP address that my WIFI is using for that computer.

I had turned WIFI on previously since I was planning on logging on to the computer using WIFI devices, but I realize this is not necessary so I just turned it off to see if that was causing some of the problems.

Once turned off, I tried the ping command again, and now it is indicating the IP address that Ethernet is using for the computer. However, I still cannot change the Computer Name with WIFI turned off. Same results.

It looks like you have 2 network instances, hence 2 names. Unplug one or the other connection for a while (like the rest of today) eventually one instance will fade away.

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 6, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

I was getting hopeful that would solve the problem, but unfortunately it didn't 😟

It is reporting the right IP for XXXXX.local but the name can't be changed.

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 6, 2012 2:56 PM in response to Csound1

Hopefully you are correct. I will wait a bit and try later.

May 6, 2012 3:01 PM in response to Ken Loh

Restart your router.

You said the computers are in DHCP mode. Usually the DHCP servers store the name associated with a specif MAC address.

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 6, 2012 7:12 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

I guess I'm impatient and didn't wait too long...but I restarted the router, the cable modem and waited a couple hours.

Unfortunately, it's still resulting in the same problem. Grrrrrr.....

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 6, 2012 7:14 PM in response to Ken Loh

The thing is...when I pinged for the XXXXX.local hostname, it specified that it was an unknown host, which I figured it meant I would be able to change it, but after trying, I got the same error message that it already existed. So I pinged again, and it displayed the same IP number that Ethernet is connected to.

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 7, 2012 9:12 PM in response to Csound1

Well, I let 24 hours pass and it's still not letting me use the name. I just don't get it?

macroel

Level 1

0 points

May 14, 2012 5:49 AM in response to Ken Loh

Had the same issue popping up today. Have a MacPro and MacBook Pro using the same Airport network. Issue popped up only on the MacPro. Resetting the name was no use. Changed the name completely, but after wake from sleep this also showed as name (2). After some experimenting, and considering that the 'Bonjour Sleep Proxy service' running on the Airport Extreme basestation maybe would register the computer names and could so be the cause, I disabled 'Wake for network access' in the Energy Saver preference panel.

After changing the computer name again, putting to sleep and wake again, the new name was kept; so it appears this solved the issue.

So I suppose the problem is related to that service getting mixed up. Don't now how to get this working correct again (didn't find any solution for resetting this service).

Anyway, if you don't reuqire 'Back to my Mac' or 'Find my Mac' to work when your mac is asleep, this could help you out.

Ken Loh Author

Level 2

299 points

May 14, 2012 8:23 AM in response to macroel

Thanks for the suggestion, macroel. I tried it this morning but unfortunately the computer still wouldn't let me change the name. I could change it to anything else, just not the name that I want since it is specified that it's already in use.

macroel

Level 1

0 points

May 14, 2012 10:15 AM in response to Ken Loh

In my suggested set-up, just try another name and see if that works without getting the name (x); that worked for me. Didn't try with the old name, as I suppose 'Wake for network access' will in some way remember this and do the same annoying trick.

As already said previously, think this service gets mixed up and didn't find a solution for restting it.

See no issue to use a new name from now on.

Succes, Ken

Computer name keeps getting (2) appended to it.