heres a details summary
vmhost1 - 10.200.10.2
vmhost2 - 10.200.10.3
server2008_1 on vmhost1 - 10.200.10.12
server2008_2 on vmhost2 - 10.200.10.13
server2008_1 can ping vmhost1 and vmhost2 but not server2008_2
server2008_2 can ping vmhost2 but not vmhost1 and server2008_1
gave servers these ips
server2008_1 on vmhost1 - 10.200.11.12
server2008_2 on vmhost2 - 10.200.11.13
server2008_1 can ping vmhost1 and vmhost2 and server2008_2
server2008_1 can ping vmhost2 and vmhost1 and server2008_1
10.200.10 should be on VLAN 2
10.200.11 should be on VLAN3
vmNetwork (on vmware is on VLAN..........................
and i'm an idiot!!!!!
bloody VMnetwwork was on wrong VLAN.
like to reiterate i didnt set this up, but i should have spotted that sooner!
all working now.
cheers for letting me talk this through!! :-)