Master browser and network browsing issue

[Steve Gould]

I have been posting concerning issues I have with the Browser service on one
of my DC's, among others. I'm starting fresh to regain perspective.

I have two Windows 2000 AD DC's and three member servers, one of which runs
Windows 2003 and Exchange 2003. The issue is with my DC's. I'll call them
DC1 and DC2. DC1 holds all the FSMO roles. Last week as one of my
troubleshooting steps I transferred the PDC role from DC1 to DC2. The
network began to have serious problems. DC2 seems unable to be a Master
Browser. After changing the role browsing for network resources from clients
comes up empty. The other servers also report being unable to get the backup
browser lists from the Master Browser. I have swapped ports on the backbone
switch, but that had no effect. I have verified the registry settings are
correct for browser roles. AD still works fine as well as DNS and Wins
(which DC2 is the master server for). I realize now that this has ALWAYS
been the case and now it is all starting to seem connected.

If I try to browse the network from DC2 it can take 15 to 30 seconds to
enumerate the list of computers. When I then double click a computer it will
take just as long to enumerate the list of shares/resources on that
server/client. DC2 also is our RAS server. Dial in users often report being
unable to access our Exchange server after connecting. DC2 often reports
being unable to get the backup browse list from the Browse Master. I always
thought it was the other server, but now I think it's this server. DC2 also
hosts all the networked printers. There are often printer connection errors
on the server.

I can't seem to figure out why DC2 is so slow to access the network. I can
ping just fine. I can access web sites just fine. There are no errors that
give me a clue. I have gone over network setup configs and all seems good.
Netdiag and other utilities seem to find no related errors. It seems to me
to be NetBIOS related (NetBEUI is not installed).

Suggestions anyone? New NIC time?


--
Steve Gould
Network Administrator
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
253-620-7454
steve.gould(at)apawood.org

 

[Steve Gould]

While trying troubleshooting steps in TechNet for browser issues I
discovered that the RRAS service is causing my problems. If I stop the
service domain network browsing works as advertised. After restarting the
service all works until the first person dials in. As soon as someone dials
in the service fails again. Here is some command line results:

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator>browstat status


Status for domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{5561E811-3CD3-499C-B8
11-E33EAEEF6D49}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: HQFAT
Master browser is running build 2195
3 backup servers retrieved from master HQFAT
\\HQBKFAX
\\HQEMS
\\HQFAT
There are 34 servers in domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{5561
E811-3CD3-499C-B811-E33EAEEF6D49}
There are 1 domains in domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{5561E
811-3CD3-499C-B811-E33EAEEF6D49}

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator>browstat status


Status for domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{5561E811-3CD3-499C-B8
11-E33EAEEF6D49}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: HQBKFAX
Master browser is running build 2195
3 backup servers retrieved from master HQBKFAX
\\HQPFS
\\HQEMS
\\HQBKFAX
There are 34 servers in domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{5561
E811-3CD3-499C-B811-E33EAEEF6D49}
There are 1 domains in domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{5561E
811-3CD3-499C-B811-E33EAEEF6D49}


Status for domain APA_NT on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{BC9A53AB-AC59-4540-A4
E6-14DCF0A18B59}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus.

Notice that the Browse Master was moved by the RRAS service to this server
from the actual browse master. The RRAS service created an "Internal" port.
This is "Undefined" until someone dials in and then assumes the IP address
from a list of static addresses I configured. That is when the new NetBT
device gets created.

Should I be creating static routes or something in RRAS?

 

[Marc Reynolds [MSFT]]

Multihomed Master Browsers can cause serious browsing issues. You can either
move your RRAS service to a member server instead of a DC or turn the
Computer Browser server off on the DC running RRAS.

191611 Symptoms of Multihomed Browsers
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=191611

--

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Steve Gould]

Marc,

Would there be any issue with combining RRAS on our IIS server (Win 2K and
IIS 5)? It is used for Intranet/Extranet access to OWA and some departmental
info pages. It also houses a Cumulus image database. Do you think RAS would
harm this server?

Steve