Console Message failed, IP vs. Name

[dhscott]

When Sending out a console message from the w2k server to everyone on our network, windows pulls up a list of all computers connected to the network. Most are listed by IP address, but some are listed by the computer name.
The ones listed by name take much longer to connect and send the message, and sometimes the server can't connect and send the message at to either the name or IP, getting the error message "Not all recipients received the message. This could be due to an invalid computer name, or because the recipient computer is unavailable."

Three questions,
Why are they listed by name rather than by IP?
Is there a way to make them all list by IP?
Why can't the server connect to these same computers every time to send the message?

Thanks

 

[intelwizrd]

Is this an AD environment?

Are all of the computers in the same network?

Is there any port blocking being done between the server and the client computer? is the messenger service running on the recipient computers?

just some thoughts of things to look at.

 

[dhscott]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes it's an AD environment, and yes all computers are in the same network and same OU.
Messenger service is running.

I'm not sure about the port blocking, I don't believe there is any, but how do I check for that?

Any thoughts about why some show up as names rather than IP?

Any and all help is much appreciated, thanks.