VMWare Server 2 Console WTF

I've been using VMWare Server 2 on a Vista 64 host to simulate a network environment for testing our operating procedures. Everything was working fine before I got on holiday. Now I am back for 2 weeks, and suddenly, VMWare thorws a wobbler.

Using the server console, I can start and stop local virtual machines, but whenever I try to connect to the console, I got the following error: 'Error opening the remote virtual machine machinename:8333\16:
An unexplained error occured.'

Brilliant. An error message that is as useless as a bookshelf made from mashed potatoes, that turns up without any changes to the system. And of course, googling did turn up many people with the same problem, but noone with a solution. Eventually, I found someone who suggested a solution for generic connection problems:

1. On the host computer you need to access the network properties for vmnet1.
2. find Internet protocol tcp/ip (v4) click properties
3. in the window use following DNS server address enter the static ip address displayed or enter the ip address 127.0.0.1
4. hit ok
5. hit ok again
6. done ! restart the machine to verify working

I have no idea why this is suddenly necessary, because the machine name is the local name and I can ping it without a problem. And VMWare consoles used to work just fine before my holiday, so I am really a bit annoyed with this. Still, the above fix worked like a charm so I am not going to complain too much.