Workgroup Manager: Troubleshooting "A computer with that description already exists" Messages

When you try to add to a computer list in Workgroup Manager, a message may say the computer already exists in a list.

Symptom

You see one of these alert messages in Workgroup Manager:

"Unable to save. A computer with that description already exists in this or another list."

"Unable to save. A computer with that address already exists in this or another list."

Solution

LDAPv3 (Mac OS X Server 10.3 or later)

Using Workgroup Manager, manually remove the computer record using the inspector. Follow these steps:

1. Open Workgroup Manager (/Applications/Server).
2. Connect to the directory domain (default: /LDAPv3/127.0.0.1).
3. From the Workgroup Manager menu, choose Preferences.
4. Select the "Show 'All Records' tab and inspector" checkbox, and save the changes.
5. Click the All Records tab.
6. Click the Options button, and be sure that only these options are selected (you may have to deselect some options):

   Show Standard Attributes
   Show Native Attributes

7. From the pop-up menu, choose Computer Lists.
8. Select the Computer List that you were trying to add this computer to.
9. Click the disclosure triangle next to Computers, and you will see a list of computers.
10. Locate the record for the computer you were trying to add. Note: The computer may or may not be in this list. If the computer is in the list, continue to step 11; otherwise skip to step 13.
11. Select the Computer you were trying to add.
    
12. From the Server menu, choose Delete Selected Records.
13. Click the disclosure triangle next to "apple-computers", and you will see a list of computers.
    
14. Locate and select the record for the computer you were trying to add. Note: The computer may or may not be in this list. If the computer is in the list, continue to step 15; otherwise skip to step 17.
15. Select the Computer you were trying to add.
    
16. From the Server menu, choose Delete Selected Records.
17. Save the changes.
18. From the pop-up menu, choose Computers.
19. Locate and select the record for the computer you were trying to add.
20. From the Server menu, choose 'Delete Selected Records'
21. Save the changes.
    

You may now add this computer to a list.

Mac OS X Server 10.2 only

Using NetInfo Manager, manually remove the computer record from the /computers directory. Follow these steps:

1. Open NetInfo Manager (/Applications/Utilities)
   
2. Connect to the directory domain (default: network).
   
3. From the Security menu, choose Authenticate.
   
4. Enter the necessary authentication information.
   
5. In the NetInfo Manager columns, browse to /computers. You will see a list of computers in this directory.
   
6. Locate the record for the computer you were trying to add.
   
7. Delete the record.
   
8. Save the changes in NetInfo Manager.
   
9. Confirm the modification by clicking the "Update this copy" button.
   

You may now add this computer to a list.