Netbios TCPIP Master Browser

[lurker]

Hi,
In trying to find cause of a file share problem, I have observed that my
Windows 2000 machine is the master browser. Why?

I have a home network with Cable to a Linksys router. Connected to the
router is:

1) Windows XP Home (All critical updates applied)
2) Windows 2000 PRO (All critical updates applied)

king-daddy

 

[Chuck]

Hi,
In trying to find cause of a file share problem, I have observed that my
Windows 2000 machine is the master browser. Why?

I have a home network with Cable to a Linksys router. Connected to the
router is:

1) Windows XP Home (All critical updates applied)
2) Windows 2000 PRO (All critical updates applied)

king-daddy

The computer that was previously the master browser generally gets chosen again.
Also, the computer that's been online longer has the edge here.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

Or look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server", and "net
config workstation", from each computer, where you may find clues. Read this
article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download
browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

Please let us know if any of these suggestions are of any help. What you learn
may help others in the future, and that's the purpose of these forums.

 

[clackey]

The computer that was previously the master browser generally gets chosen again.
Also, the computer that's been online longer has the edge here.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

Or look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server", and "net
config workstation", from each computer, where you may find clues. Read this
article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download
browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

Please let us know if any of these suggestions are of any help. What you learn
may help others in the future, and that's the purpose of these forums.

WoW!
That is impressive information!
I am learning and trying things based on what I learn.

Across the years, I surely have done all the actions described in
"What's The Problem Then?" I had no clue what the affect might be.

I have killed the Kerio firewall in the Windows 2000 machine that seems
to be "not responding" when my failure shows up.

....but I digress. While I am working the problem, I have changed the
computer name and workgroup of both computers. Power cycled both
several times, and now Network Neighborhood / My Network Places still
have all the former names / shortcuts in the list. HOW DO I clear out
the old, now invalid names?

king-daddy

 

[Chuck]

WoW!
That is impressive information!
I am learning and trying things based on what I learn.

Across the years, I surely have done all the actions described in
"What's The Problem Then?" I had no clue what the affect might be.

I have killed the Kerio firewall in the Windows 2000 machine that seems
to be "not responding" when my failure shows up.

...but I digress. While I am working the problem, I have changed the
computer name and workgroup of both computers. Power cycled both
several times, and now Network Neighborhood / My Network Places still
have all the former names / shortcuts in the list. HOW DO I clear out
the old, now invalid names?

king-daddy

Sounds like a segmented LAN, where the browser hasn't caught up with reality.
Let's look at the diagnostics (described above).

 

[clackey]

Sounds like a segmented LAN, where the browser hasn't caught up with reality.
Let's look at the diagnostics (described above).

Thanks for impressive response time!

I left the machines idle overnight (8 hours) and nothing has changed in
results. I did notice that XP "My Network Places" took 20 minutes to
populate. All the expected shares showed up with correct name in
"Computer" column.

All the old, invalid names show computer as "Unknown"

I was able to delete them as if they were in a document...
I sorted the list by clicking on "Computer" column.

Over simplified a bit...
I marked the target lines by holding down "Shift" key and marking the
1st and last lines as a block.
Press the delete key.

FYI, here is the information requested.
================
*I don't do DHCP NOW. I switched to fixed IP two weeks ago with the
purpose of testing if that would affect the problem. It did not.

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : KING-DADDY
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR FA310TX Fast
Ethernet Adapter (NGRPCI)

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-CC-54-8B-A3

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.51

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.185
207.69.188.187


J:\shared>BROWSTAT STATUS


Status for domain KINGDOM on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{EA051C55-D2F3-4A2F-B263-BB3332A5FAF3}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: QUEENIE
Master browser is running build 2195
1 backup servers retrieved from master QUEENIE
\\QUEENIE
There are 2 servers in domain KINGDOM on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{EA051C55-D2F3-4A2F-B263-BB3332A5FAF3}
There are 1 domains in domain KINGDOM on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{EA051C55-D2F3-4A2F-B263-BB3332A5FAF3}

king-daddy