"Connection-specific DNS suffix" is missing

[Graeme]

One of the computers on my network has lost the ability
to browse the network neighbourhood. When I do ipconfig,
I can see that the computer is picking up an IP address
but there is no entry in the "Connection-specific DNS
suffix" field. Is this the problem? What should I do to
solve this?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

One of the computers on my network has lost the ability
to browse the network neighbourhood. When I do ipconfig,
I can see that the computer is picking up an IP address
but there is no entry in the "Connection-specific DNS
suffix" field. Is this the problem? What should I do to
solve this?

If you run ipconfig /all, you should see the primary dns suffix assigned by
the DHCP server, presuming you're using a DHCP server from your server & not
your router/firewall.

Don't know much about your network, but if you're using AD, make sure that
all servers and workstations specify *only* the internal DNS server's IP
address in their network settings. The DNS server itself should be set up
with forwarders to your ISP's DNS servers for external resolution and/or use
root hints. See
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;300202 for more
info.

In addition, make sure NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on your clients....

 

[Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]]

In

One of the computers on my network has lost the ability
to browse the network neighbourhood. When I do ipconfig,
I can see that the computer is picking up an IP address
but there is no entry in the "Connection-specific DNS
suffix" field. Is this the problem? What should I do to
solve this?

The connection specific DNS suffix has nothing to do with your problem, in
fact nothing DNS has anything to do with your problem because Network
neighborhood does not use DNS, it uses the Computer Browser Service.
Check that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled, then take a read of these
articles.
188001 - Description of the Microsoft Computer Browser Service:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;188001
188305 - Troubleshooting the Microsoft Computer Browser Service:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;188305
818092 - Description of NetBIOS Browsing Console (Browcon.exe):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818092

 

[Guest]

Install/run browcon.exe on this or another computer on the subnet. Browcon is
a great utility from MS. This will tell you the three Master/Backup Browsers
for this subnet. You can either stop/start the browser service on the SMB or
reboot it to force an election.
This should kickstart browsing for this subnet.