I am trying to create hidden "mini-LANs" for use in testing application deployment and using VMware workstation on Vista x64 to create the machines.
Two instances of Windows XP are running. They both have single NICs on the NAT'ed virtual adapter VMnet8 and generally work fine with regard to the network. They can ping each other. A web server running on one can be accessed by the other. They can both access the Internet.
However, one of the machines is continually complaining about another machine on the network with a similar name. This prevents the other virtual machine from accessing its CIFS shares, for example:
net view \\NOT-A-DUP
System error 52 has occurred.
You were not connected because a
duplicate name exists on the network.
Go to System in Control Panel to
change the computer name and try
again.
I have tried changing the name as it suggests, but this does not help. Does anyone know why this error is occurring?
Best Answer
Are you using multiple copies of the same virtual machine file to bring up all of your test machines? If so, you may need to verify that VMWare is creating a new unique MAC address for each of the virtual machines as it comes online.