if( $vmServerIP =~ m/^(\d\d?\d?)\.(\d\d?\d?)\.(\d\d?\d?)\.(\d\d?\d?)/ ){
    if($1 <= 255 && $2 <= 255 && $3 <= 255 && $4 <= 255){
      open (my $oldhfile, ,'<', $hfilepath) or die "Could not open $hfilepath for reading.";
      my @hfile = <$oldhfile>;
#
# read each line to find the lines that lead with an IP address
# and then find the line with HOSTNAME in it and replace that IP
# address with the provided one
#

      foreach $hfileline (@hfile) {
           next unless $hfileline =~/^\s*\s+$hNames/;
           $hfileline = "$vmServerIP       $hNames\n";            
      }