Browsing with Network Neighborhood

[Guest]

We have 6 Windows 2000 (SP4) servers that are in Mixed mode, 3 of these
servers are DC's, and 3 are member servers. Sometimes on our client PC's
(Win XP - SP1) when we browse the network, not all of the servers and clients
show up. But sometimes if we wait a period of time during the day the
machines will show up.
We do have DNS servers in our network.

Any thoughts/ideas whould be great,
Jeff

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

We have 6 Windows 2000 (SP4) servers that are in Mixed mode, 3 of these
servers are DC's, and 3 are member servers. Sometimes on our client PC's
(Win XP - SP1) when we browse the network, not all of the servers and clients
show up. But sometimes if we wait a period of time during the day the
machines will show up.
We do have DNS servers in our network.

Jeff,

this is a common problem with the computer browser service,
which seems to be a bit unreliable. It depends, for example, on
the sequence and timing of when the computers are switched on.

If you have a few servers that run continuously, you could set
all other computers, particularly client computers, not to
become computer browsers.

Details are in http://www.michna.com/kb/wxnet.htm.

Hans-Georg

 

[Guest]

Are you saying I just nned to disable the computer browser service on all the
client PC's, and that should fix the problem. Do I need a WINS server ?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Are you saying I just nned to disable the computer browser service on all the
client PC's, and that should fix the problem. Do I need a WINS server ?

Jeff,

no, you don't need a WINS server for a small network,
particularly not for just one subnet.

The computer browser system is notoriously fickle. It is a good
idea to disable it on all computers running older operating
systems, and it may help to disable it on all clients and only
leave it running on servers. You can test this quickly.

Note, however, that you want the browser service running on one
computer at least, better on two, at all times, because if it is
not running anywhere, you will not see any computers in Network
Neighborhood or My Network Places. If you have one or two
servers that are always running, then those are the ones.

Hans-Georg

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I'm going to set a group policy to disable the Computer Browser
service. This will turn it off for all my XP machines. Is this the best way
to turn off this service? Is their a easy way to do all 9X & NT machines ??

Thanks for all your help,
Jeff

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thanks, I'm going to set a group policy to disable the Computer Browser
service. This will turn it off for all my XP machines. Is this the best way
to turn off this service? Is their a easy way to do all 9X & NT machines ??

Jeff,

NT machines? That's a pretty old operating system. I'd try to
disable the browser service on those first.

Next thing you'll tell me is that there are Windows 95 machines
in the network. -)

It is quite possible that the computer browser will work fine if
you disable the service on the oldest computers only.

Hans-Georg

 

[Guest]

Is their a way to disable the computer browser service on the NT & 9x
machines remotely?
Yes, believe it or not we have about 100 95/98 PC's.

FYI, Sometimes I see an event logged on my PDC, that machine X has become
the master browser, or wants to become the master browser.

Jeff

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Is their a way to disable the computer browser service on the NT & 9x
machines remotely?
Yes, believe it or not we have about 100 95/98 PC's.

FYI, Sometimes I see an event logged on my PDC, that machine X has become
the master browser, or wants to become the master browser.

Jeff,

sorry, but I'm unable to support any installation that contains
Windows NT or Windows 95 computers. Have to draw the line
somewhere, and I genuinely don't know these operating systems
any more. All I remember is that Windows 95 is a pig when it
comes to networking.

Running a computer museum or zoo creates its own peculiar
problems. That's very unfortunate, but still a fact.

I can only recommend that you find out how to disable the
computer browser function on the older operating systems, then
do that and hope that the problems disappear.

Hans-Georg