I unofficially manage a small (<10 machines) office network, with machines running on a variety of Windows operating systems:
- One on XP (This is running specialist software and hardware which is not compatible with newer Windows versions, so I can't easily update it).
- Several on Win7.
- A software-license and file server (very light usage) on Win Server 2008
- One on Windows 10 – Just been delivered, I haven't actually hooked it all up yet.
We've just discovered (by accident) a benefit to sharing the same hostname between two computers on the system, to do with the shonky way some old software is set up. Ultimately though the reasons why we want to do this can be considered irrelevant for the purposes of this question.
As far as I know the only machine which I've ever set up to be referred to by hostname is the server, which is accessed by it's hostname "[CompanyName]-Server", and none of the other machines on the network directly communicate with each other. I'm also not planning to duplicate the server's hostname, just some of the clients.
I don't believe I've ever set up any kind of Domain, Homegroup or Workgroup through Windows, I just set the server up with a static local IP Address (x.x.x.1) through the server's IP configuration settings within Windows, did the same with our network printers via their own configs, then set up our router as a DHCP server (x.x.x.100-199) for the other machines on the network.
All machines also share an internet connection through the router, but we are not hosting anything (websites, servers) etc. to anything outside of our LAN aside from VERY occasional TeamViewer (remote desktop) use.
I'm currently under the assumption that for the most part the hostname is just a "user-friendly" way of identifying machines on the network whereas most important functions will default to using the IP address.
What I need to know is if two (or more) machines with the same hostname, on the same network are likely to cause any general issues.
Just to clarify, when I use the term "hostname" I am talking about the "computer name" which is returned when I type "hostname" into a windows command prompt.
Best Answer
To be (a little) pedantic the hostname is not the same as the computer name but usually is. You can have duplicate hostname's no problem (there is more than one host named www.google.com for instance).
First you are really probably talking about the machine name (the companyname-server in \companyname-server\files). Windows will assume this is unique. Second this is really the "machinename" - usually but not always the same as the hostname (thanks Microsoft).
Finally - if the server's name is unique and you are only using a Workgroup you should be OK - but don't be surprised to see some weirdness and this assumes the printers are all off the server or stand alone. Anything people want to go to needs to be unique, and if you ever go to a Windows Active Directory Domain you must have unique names*
*Ok, there are some tricks like DisableStictNameChecking and OptionalNames. Don't go there.