You need to check why the 2.2 don t ping the 2.3, in the original setup (why all the 192.168.2.x don t ping each other). Can you try to connect a crossover cable between the 192.168.2.2 and 192.168.2.3 to check if they will ping? Also, user "vmkping", and not "ping". Double check if the vMotion interfaces have the "vMotion" checkbox enabled (and only the vmotion interfaces, no other).
The other IPs ping each other?