Troubleshooting Win. XP Workgroup Network Config.

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?iConsultant=AE?=]

Network Scenario:

Two Win XP Pro stations configured for Workgroup
Networking,Folder and Printer sharing associated. Every
available Win.XP networking protocol installed, file
sharing & networking services also installed. Usernames
and passwords for Administrator accounts on both stations
created and enabled. Both computers are conected to the
internet via DSL modem and an ethernet hub. Both
computers can ping each other by IP addresses.

Problem: Both computers can't see each other in my
network places in the Workgroup tree as such shared
resources are not accessible. Is this a NetBIOS issue?
And is this the point where I resort to a NetBEUI
implementation/solution?

Useful suggestions will be highly appreciated, kindest
regards & thanks in anticipation !

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Network Scenario:

Two Win XP Pro stations configured for Workgroup
Networking,Folder and Printer sharing associated. Every
available Win.XP networking protocol installed, file
sharing & networking services also installed. Usernames
and passwords for Administrator accounts on both stations
created and enabled. Both computers are conected to the
internet via DSL modem and an ethernet hub. Both
computers can ping each other by IP addresses.

Problem: Both computers can't see each other in my
network places in the Workgroup tree as such shared
resources are not accessible. Is this a NetBIOS issue?
And is this the point where I resort to a NetBEUI
implementation/solution?

Useful suggestions will be highly appreciated, kindest
regards & thanks in anticipation !

There's never a need for NetBEUI in a Windows network. If there were,
Microsoft wouldn't have made NetBEUI an un-supported protocol in
Windows XP.

The following answer applies to computers that connect to a cable
modem or DSL modem through a hub or switch. It doesn't apply if they
connect through a broadband router.

Your network setup is described in the Windows XP Help and Support
program. Click Start | Help and Support, search for the topic
"Network configurations overview", and look at the section labeled
"Individual Internet connections".

The solution given there is to install the IPX/SPX protocol for file
sharing and to disable file sharing on TCP/IP. I've written a web
page showing how to do it:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

Here are three reasons to use IPX/SPX instead of TCP/IP for file
sharing:

1. If your cable or DSL provider assigns IP addresses in different
subnets to your computers, it isn't possible for them to communicate
with each other using TCP/IP.

2. Since your computers connect directly to the Internet through the
cable or DSL modem, they receive public IP addresses that are
accessible by everyone on the Internet. Using TCP/IP for file sharing
could let other people access your shared files.

3. Some ISP's block the NetBIOS ports on their networks prevent other
Internet users from accessing their customers' computers. In that
case, your computers might not be able to share files with each other
even if they could ping each other.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com