Computer Name Keeps changing

[Unixwolf]

Every so often I boot or reboot my computer and the "Computer Name" changes by adding a number 2 to the name, for example my computer at home is called "Dilbert" and when I boot I notice the has changed to "Dilbert (2). When I try to change it back I get a dialog box that tells me "The name of the computer "Dilbert" is already in use on this network. The name has been changed to "Dilbert (2)". To change the name of your computer, open the System Preferences and click Sharing, then type the name in the Computer Name field." BTW, this is the field I am in and attempting to change the name in. I have gone to the "Console" to see what is said there, but this info is bit crypt to me;

8/13/10 7:54:27 PM mDNSResponder[35] mDNSCoreReceiveResponse: Received from 172.16.222.1:5353 11 Dilbert._net-assistant._udp.local. TXT sleeping=1
8/13/10 7:54:27 PM mDNSResponder[35] mDNSCoreReceiveResponse: ProbeCount 2; will rename 21 Dilbert._net-assistant._udp.local. SRV 0 0 3283 Dilbert.local.
8/13/10 7:54:28 PM mDNSResponder[35] User updated Computer Name from “Dilbert” to “Dilbert (2)”

Anyone have any ideas' as to how to fix this and as to why it may be happening?

Anthony

 

[Intell]

My, uneducated, guess is that there are some residual Bonjour parts from your Mac being kept alive on your Network. I'd restart the router and every device connected to that network then see if it make it go away.

 

[TEG]

I have the same thing happen on my parent's iMac, but it has only been since one of the Snow Leopard updates, I think 10.6.2. Sometimes I won't notice it for a while, and it will get up into the 100s.

Are you by chance connecting your computer to an Airport wireless network, with the Airport Extreme (N)?

TEG

 

[d88co88]

Do you have another computer with the same name on the network? If so, rename it to something different and it should stay the same.

 

[Unixwolf]

I'll give this a try next time it happens, thanks.

My, uneducated, guess is that there are some residual Bonjour parts from your Mac being kept alive on your Network. I'd restart the router and every device connected to that network then see if it make it go away.

No other computers with the same name.

Do you have another computer with the same name on the network? If so, rename it to something different and it should stay the same.

I am using an Apple Time Capsule with 10.6.4 but no wireless on the computer in question, though I am using the routers wireless access for my laptops which do not show these issues.

I have the same thing happen on my parent's iMac, but it has only been since one of the Snow Leopard updates, I think 10.6.2. Sometimes I won't notice it for a while, and it will get up into the 100s.

Are you by chance connecting your computer to an Airport wireless network, with the Airport Extreme (N)?

TEG

 

[FourCandles]

My, uneducated, guess is that there are some residual Bonjour parts from your Mac being kept alive on your Network. I'd restart the router and every device connected to that network then see if it make it go away.

That's my feeling too.

I've had the same issue (on a non-Apple router).

 

[TEG]

I've been thinking about this for a while and think it might be related to "Wake on Demand" and your Airport network. I'm going to try disabling the "Wake on Demand" feature on my parent's iMac. I've noticed that the computer's name doesn't change when correctly restarted or shut down, but they play a poorly programmed card game that freezes the computer twice a week or more, forcing a non-standard shutdown.

We'll see if that fixes the issue.

TEG

 

[TEG]

It appears that disabling "Wake on Network Access" has helped. Try it and see what happens on your end.

TEG

 

[Pinkerton]

I've had the same or a similar issue. My computer was constantly renaming itself with a (2) every time it booted, after a system lockup. I tracked the issue down to CD/DVD sharing... when turned off the problem went away.

When CD/DVD sharing was on, I could not change the name back to the original version, it would get rejected and immediately set back to the version with "(2)", displaying the message:

The name of your computer "Name" is already in use on this network. The name has been changed to "Name (2)" automatically.

With CD/DVD sharing turned off, I could name my computer whatever I liked, even back to the original name. Turning DVD/CD sharing back on again would instantly rename my Mac. It's very persistent bug!

Fortunately I found a fix. I was able to get rid of the problem by toggling Bonjour, as described here:

http://tech.karbassi.com/2007/11/06/leopard-turn-off-bonjour-mdnsresponder/

To turn Bonjour off:

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist

To turn it back on:

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist

Toggling Bonjour (mDNSResponder) forced a reset of something on my system somewhere, and now I no longer see the issue on reboot, even with CD/DVD sharing turned on. I can turn sharing on and off at will, and my computer is never renamed. Success!

I don't think this problem has to do with CD/DVD sharing specifically... I think it's a bug in Bonjour. I've seen threads where people have complained about this issue because of printer sharing, or remote management! My guess is that a crash can cause a mDNSResponder config corruption, tricking Bonjour to share devices or services using the same name as your computer, forcing the name conflict.

In any case, I hope this fix works for you too. I know I'm a lot happier now that there isn't a lingering issue on my box!