Merging is based on resource key names and values. Typical causes of merging are:

• Common mac addresses from virtualization software or other predefined NICS
• DNS cache providing the wrong computer name from stale leases 
• Common resource key names and values, which are used to identify unique computer resources
• Computers with the same hostname, usually from imaging processes
• Other causes may exist

Step 1: Identify common resource keyname and keyvalue values on Unix, Linux and Mac managed computers: 

Run the following command on two or more computers and compare the name/value pairs. If any name/value pair matches on two or more computers, the computer resources will merge on the NS server.

• aex-helper info resource

 Sample output: 

# aex-helper info resource

Resource GUID: {ECBCB670-E433-4870-8B53-DF6E8266092B}

Resource Type: Computer ({493435F7-3B17-4C4C-B07F-C23E7AB7781F})

Resource keys:

name.domain=mycomputer

name.domain=mycomputer.mydomain

fqdn=mycomputer.mydomain.com

name.domain=mycomputer.mydomain.net

uniqueid=AbxYcJiaO14XeVHrECC+bw==

uniqueid=cDmt/m/pGkOZTo3rg04tQQ==

uniqueid=Ef1aNYVyyvwH1rng9djIOA==

uniqueid=Ghw3+t2d5w8idNkA/haXgQ==

Step 2: Prevent the creation or use of specific resource keys or values:

• http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO21641 - How to exclude or ignore certain "mac address" values as resource keys on the NS

• http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO60919 - Configuring the SMP Agent to ignore specific resource keys on Unix, Linux & Macintosh clients
   
• www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO100988 - Merged Computer Resources and DNS Scavenging

Step 3: Cleanup currently merged resources:

• http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO84072 - How to Unmerge and Assign a New Resource Guid to a Unix, Linux or Mac Client Computer