Computer name keeps changing on wake-up

Hi,


since recently (I think since I did the last system update), the network name of my computer (iMac 27" mid-2011, OS X 10.10.4) keeps changing every time my computer wakes up from sleep. The name of the computer is supposed to be Platypus (i.e. "platypus.local" on the network), but it's suddenly become something like platypus-xx.local, where "xx" is actually a number that keeps increasing.

The first few times that happened I changed the name back to the original, but I've given up now and the current name is Platypus-3179.local. The number increases by large increments each time the computer wakes up.

Every time this happens (on wake-up), I get a dialog box saying that the computer name is in use and has been changed to one with a higher number (see screenshots below).


Needless to say, there isn't a computer with a similar name on the network (home network).


The problem is that it makes it much more cumbersome to access my computer through ssh or the like.


Does anyone have any idea why it's doing this and what I can do to prevent this?


Thanks!


David


User uploaded file


User uploaded file


User uploaded file

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 14, 2015 6:01 AM

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4 replies

Aug 14, 2015 6:16 AM in response to Barb Norvell

I wouldn't imagine it to have anything to do with your neighbour's internet connection, which is supposedly completely independent from yours (except if he's/you're tapping into the other's wifi...). Anyway, I didn't make any changes to my Internet/TV service recently (admittedly I don't know if my neighbour did), and the other Mac I have at home (Mac Mini) doesn't have that problem.

But as I was saying, the network name of the computer is valid only in your local network, it is not available to the internet or your neighbour.


However, you made me realise it may be a problem with the router though. I'll try and restart it.

Can you tell me what router model you have? Mine's a D-Link DIR-825.


Cheers,


David

Aug 14, 2015 8:19 AM in response to pagød

There are several possible causes for this behavior.

1. Two (or more) computers on the local network have the same Bonjour name, such as "X's-MacBook-Pro.local". Resolve the name conflict by renaming one or more of them in the Sharing preference pane.

2. You have two physical connections to the same local network, probably Ethernet and Wi-Fi. In that case, either disconnect the Ethernet cable or turn off Wi-Fi.

3. A Mac wakes from sleep due to network traffic. This is a bug in OS X that may only affect some models. You can avoid it as follows:

Open the Energy Saver pane in System Preferences and unlock the settings, if necessary. Select the Power Adapter tab, if there is one. Uncheck the box marked

Wake for Wi-Fi network access

if it's checked.

4. A device that gets its network address from the router wakes from sleep, and the address it was using before has been assigned to another device.

5. A third-party wireless router has incompatible settings or firmware. In that case, refer to the manufacturer or ISP for support. Restarting the router may help, temporarily.

6. If the router is an Apple device, it may need to be restarted.

7. A Bonjour device on the network is misconfigured or malfunctioning. Finding out which is a process of elimination.

8. There is more than one DHCP server on the network. Typically, there would be two or more wireless access points configured to act as routers.

9. See this support article. The article refers to OS X 10.10 ("Yosemite"), but it's applicable to all versions of the OS.

10. Back up all data. Make notes of your settings in the Network preference pane.

Triple-click the line below on this page to select it:

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration

Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

Services ▹ Reveal

from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item named "SystemConfiguration" selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator password.

Restart the computer and empty the Trash. You will need to recreate the network settings.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

Aug 14, 2015 1:56 PM in response to Linc Davis

The issue is actually with #2: having both an ethernet and a Wi-Fi connection enabled in 10.10.4 WILL force the machine to change its hostname (it sees one service is being served by one hostname, then the second service tries to do the same and is being forced to change it).


Was hoping this issue would be fixed with 10.10.5 but no: the issue is persisting.


Everything was fine in 10.10.3.

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Computer name keeps changing on wake-up

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