The netsh command cannot start the PNRP Machine Name Publication Service on a Windows Server 2008-based computer

You use the netsh command for Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) to publish a peer name for the computer on a Windows Server 2008-based computer. Then, you receive the following error message:This error occurs when you type the set machinename publish=start command at the Netsh p2p pnrp> prompt, and then press ENTER.

Note The set machinename publish=start command starts the PNRP Machine Name Publication Service in Windows Server 2008.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type Services.msc, and then click OK.
2. In the details pane, double-click PNRP Machine Name Publication Service.
3. In the Startup type box, click Automatic, and then click Apply.
4. Click the Log On tab, and then verify that the service is enabled in every hardware profile that is listed. If the service is disabled in one or more hardware profiles, click the hardware profile, click Enable, and then click Apply.
5. Click the General tab, and then click Start.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

PNRP is used by Windows Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking to resolve names for peer communication. In P2P environments, peers rely on name resolution systems to resolve each other's network locations. This name resolution includes addresses, protocols, and ports from names or from other kinds of identifiers. PNRP provides a secure, scalable, and dynamic name registration and name resolution protocol. This protocol was first developed for Windows XP, and then the protocol was upgraded in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008. Applications can take advantage of the new functionalities that PNRP provides. PNRP works very differently from other name resolution systems.

PNRP has the following features:

• A feature that allows for distributed and serverless functionality to improve scalability and reliability.
• A feature that allows for easy name publication functionality that does not use third-party applications.
• A feature that allows for real time updates to identifiers and to addresses.
• A feature that allows for the identification of more than only computers.
• A feature that allows for protected name publication. This feature includes both secure and nonsecure name publication.

For more information about PNRP, visit the following Microsoft Web site:For more information about netsh commands for Peer-to-Peer networking, visit the following Microsoft Web site: