JSI Tip 0062 - Give your machine a Netbios alias.

If you have an machine name that is invalid for SQL Server, Exchange, or just want to be cute, you can change it in Control Panel / Networks, but that could be a lot of work.

Create an alias instead, by editing:

HKEY_Local_MachineSystemCurrentControlSetServicesLanmanServerParameters

Add Value: OptionalNames REG_SZ String: "Alias"

If you make it a type REG_MULTI_SZ, you can add multiple aliases.