Networking XP & Home PC with Cross wire

[Speedy]

Now I thought I do the simplest of LAN by plugging one PC into the other with
the required cross cable.

Manny bizzare things later and many good articles and assistance seen in
this area (Thanks to the MVS's and their assistance)

But here is where we stand. THe XP Pro machine can see all the files shares
set up onthe XP Home machine, but it does not see itself on the network.

The Home PC sees sometimes itself on the network and its shares but not the
XP Pro machine. Searches and then nothing.

Ping 192.168.0.10 (XP home machine) works
Ping 192.168.0.20 (XP Pro machine) works
Ping computer01 (XP PRO) works
Ping compaq (XP Home) works
from both sides/PC

User guest enabled on both machine same password. used net user guest etc.

But can't get \\computer name\ shared files or \\IP address\shared files to
work?

NETBIOS over TCP/IP enabled on both machines. Only have basic services as
are normally recomended by Chuck.

SFS enabled on XP Pro machine

One issues is that the XP Home PC is a french windows and XP Pro is english
version windows. To overcome this? created a Guest account rather than
Invité (French equivalent) to ensure both have exactely the same name /
password.

Do not fully follow how windows uses this guest in its access betweent the
PC though and what the impact is when normal logon is to an other user ID?

There we are, long story but its driving me crazy! Plug and pray after that
it's pure hell!

I throw it open to the experts!!!

Cheers

Speedy

 

[John Wunderlich]

But here is where we stand. THe XP Pro machine can see all the
files shares set up onthe XP Home machine, but it does not see
itself on the network.

The XP Home machine probably became the master browser. When listing
shares, you see what the master browser sees. The master browser
doesn't see the Pro machine. Most likely because of a firewall issue.

The Home PC sees sometimes itself on the network and its shares
but not the XP Pro machine. Searches and then nothing.

Ping 192.168.0.10 (XP home machine) works
Ping 192.168.0.20 (XP Pro machine) works
Ping computer01 (XP PRO) works
Ping compaq (XP Home) works
from both sides/PC

Pings may work because it is ICMP protocol which is different than the
microsoft networking (NetBT / Net Bios over TCP/IP) protocol. You
would be much better served by using the NetBT equivalent of a ping:

nbtstat -a machinename
or
nbtstat -A machineIP

User guest enabled on both machine same password. used net user
guest etc.

But can't get \\computer name\ shared files or \\IP address\shared
files to work?

Where are you typing "\\computerName\share" ? Is it in a Start->Run
window, an Explorer Address window or on a command line prompt?
Assuming you are doing it correctly, it will resolve the address with a
broadcast. Broadcasts will usually fail under two conditions
1) A firewall is blocking
2) Either/Both of the nodes is/are a P-Type (Peer-to-Peer) node.

Check "ipconfig /all" on both machines to make sure you aren't a
P-node.

One issues is that the XP Home PC is a french windows and XP Pro
is english version windows. To overcome this? created a Guest
account rather than Invité (French equivalent) to ensure both
have exactely the same name / password.

Force a specific user connection by using the following syntax:
net use * \\computername\sharename /user:computername\username

Do not fully follow how windows uses this guest in its access
betweent the PC though and what the impact is when normal logon is
to an other user ID?

XP Home or Simple File Sharing force network access to shares through
the Guest account. This should not prevent one machine from seeing the
other machine on the network.

My bets are on a firewall blocking the protocol. If you are using
nothing more than Windows Firewall, then go to the control panel,
Windows Firewall, and on the "Exceptions" tab, make sure "File and
Printer Sharing" is checked.

HTH,
John

 

[Speedy]

Hi John,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I have a couple of precisions and questions.
See below in CAPITALS.

Below is also the details of the various configurations:

IPCONFIG –ALL ON XP HOME (COMPAQ)

Configuration IP de Windows
Nom de l'hôte . . . . . . . . . . : COMPAQ
Suffixe DNS principal . . . :
Type de nœud . . . . . . . . . . : Inconnu
Routage IP activé . . . . . .. . : Oui
Proxy WINS activé . . . . . . : Non

Carte Ethernet Connexion au réseau local:
Suffixe DNS propre à la connexion :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Carte réseau Fast Ethernet PCI Realtek
RTL8139 Family
Adresse physique . . . . .. .: 00-10-DC-A3-8D-C9
DHCP activé. . . . . . . . . . : Non
Adresse IP. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.10
Masque de sous-réseau . . : 255.255.255.0
Passerelle par défaut . . . . . . :

Carte PPP Alcatel Speedtouch Connection :
Suffixe DNS propre à la connexion :
Description . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Adresse physique . . . . . . .: 00-53-45-00-00-00
DHCP activé. . . . . . . . . . . : Non
Adresse IP. . . . . . . . . . . . : 195.218.25.61
Masque de sous-réseau . . : 255.255.255.255
Passerelle par défaut . . . . : 195.218.25.61
Serveurs DNS . . . . . . . . . : 195.218.0.9 195.218.0.8

IPCONFIG –ALL ON XP PRO (COMPUTER01)

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . : Computer01
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . : 00-16-76-40-0C-87
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.20
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . : FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::ffff:ffff:fffd%4
Default Gateway . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . : C0-A8-00-14
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . .. . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.0.20%2
Default Gateway . . . . . .. :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1 fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . .. : Disabled

NBTSTAT –A ON XP HOME FOR COMPAQ

Connexion au réseau local:
Adresse IP du noeudÿ: [192.168.0.10] ID d'‚tendueÿ: []
Table de noms NetBIOS des ordinateurs distants
Nom Type Âtat
----------------------------------- COMPAQ <00> UNIQUE
Inscrit
MSHOME <00> Groupe Inscrit
COMPAQ <20> UNIQUE Inscrit
MSHOME <1E> Groupe Inscrit
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Inscrit
...__MSBROWSE__.<01> Groupe Inscrit
Adresse MAC = 00-10-DC-A3-8D-C9

Alcatel Speedtouch Connection:
Adresse IP du noeudÿ: [195.218.25.61] ID d'‚tendueÿ: []

Table de noms NetBIOS des ordinateurs distants
Nom Type Âtat
-------------------------------------- COMPAQ <00> UNIQUE
Inscrit
MSHOME <00> Groupe Inscrit
COMPAQ <20> UNIQUE Inscrit
MSHOME <1E> Groupe Inscrit
Adresse MAC = 00-53-45-00-00-00

NBTSTAT –A ON XP PRO FOR COMPUTER01

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.20] Scope Id: []
NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table
Name Type Status
-------------------------- COMPUTER01 <00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MAC Address = 00-16-76-40-0C-87

NBTSTAT –A ON XP PRO FOR COMPAQ

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.20] Scope Id: []
NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table
Name Type Status
----------------------------------- COMPAQ <00> UNIQUE
Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
COMPAQ <20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
...__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered
MAC Address = 00-10-DC-A3-8D-C9

The XP Home machine probably became the master browser. When listing
shares, you see what the master browser sees. The master browser
doesn't see the Pro machine. Most likely because of a firewall issue.


Pings may work because it is ICMP protocol which is different than the
microsoft networking (NetBT / Net Bios over TCP/IP) protocol. You
would be much better served by using the NetBT equivalent of a ping:

nbtstat -a machinename
or
nbtstat -A machineIP

THIS WORKS. SEE DETAILS ABOVE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS NEEDING EXPLANATIONS. WHO IS Master Browser?

Where are you typing "\\computerName\share" ? Is it in a Start->Run
window, an Explorer Address window or on a command line prompt?
Assuming you are doing it correctly, it will resolve the address with a
broadcast. Broadcasts will usually fail under two conditions
1) A firewall is blocking
2) Either/Both of the nodes is/are a P-Type (Peer-to-Peer) node.

I HAVE DONE THIS VIA START RUN CMD THEN COMMAND. IS THIS RIGHT? THIS DOES
NOT WORK THOUGH!

Check "ipconfig /all" on both machines to make sure you aren't a
P-node.

IPCONFIG INDICATES NODE HYBRID ON XP PRO AND NONE ON XP HOME PC. WHERE
WOULD ONE CHANGE THIS ANYHOW?

Force a specific user connection by using the following syntax:
net use * \\computername\sharename /user:computername\username


XP Home or Simple File Sharing force network access to shares through
the Guest account. This should not prevent one machine from seeing the
other machine on the network.

My bets are on a firewall blocking the protocol. If you are using
nothing more than Windows Firewall, then go to the control panel,
Windows Firewall, and on the "Exceptions" tab, make sure "File and
Printer Sharing" is checked.

YES FORGTO TO MENTION ON THE XP HOME PC THERE IS NORTON INTERNET SECURITY.
THIS HAS BEEN SET TO ALLOW ALL PC ON THE LAN AND I HAVE PUT A RULE WHICH
ALLOWAS ALL TRAFFIC BETWEEN PC ON LAN. THIS VERSION OF NORTON IS NOT
PARTICULARY EASY TO CONFIGURE (MADE TO LEAVE IT ALONE) ONE WOULD THINK THIS
IS SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE FIREWALL BLOCKING? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 

[John Wunderlich]

THIS WORKS. SEE DETAILS ABOVE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS
NEEDING EXPLANATIONS. WHO IS Master Browser?

An election is held for the Master Browser. The computer that shows an
entry of "__MSBROWSE__" in response to a "nbtstat" command is the
master browser.

I HAVE DONE THIS VIA START RUN CMD THEN COMMAND. IS THIS RIGHT?
THIS DOES NOT WORK THOUGH!

It should work if you do a "Start -> Run -> then enter
\\computername\share
It should also work if you enter it in an explorer address window.
It will not work if you bring up a command window (Start->Run->Cmd) and
enter it in the command window that pops up. This is normal.

IPCONFIG INDICATES NODE HYBRID ON XP PRO AND NONE ON XP HOME PC.
WHERE WOULD ONE CHANGE THIS ANYHOW?

"Hybrid" is OK. Not sure of "unknown". You're right, this is not easy
to change. If you need to do this, see the following article:

"You cannot view other workgroup computers on the network on a Windows
XP-based computer"

YES FORGTO TO MENTION ON THE XP HOME PC THERE IS NORTON INTERNET
SECURITY. THIS HAS BEEN SET TO ALLOW ALL PC ON THE LAN AND I HAVE
PUT A RULE WHICH ALLOWAS ALL TRAFFIC BETWEEN PC ON LAN. THIS
VERSION OF NORTON IS NOT PARTICULARY EASY TO CONFIGURE (MADE TO
LEAVE IT ALONE) ONE WOULD THINK THIS IS SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE
FIREWALL BLOCKING? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

If this were my situation, I would totally un-install the firewall and
reboot to confirm that this was or was not the problem (then re-
installing if it turns out not to be the problem). Or maybe as a first
step, try totally disabling the firewall if possible.

I have a couple of precisions and
questions. See below in CAPITALS.

Below is also the details of the various configurations:

IPCONFIG –ALL ON XP HOME (COMPAQ)

[...]
Type de nœud . . . . . . . . . . : Inconnu

Probably not a problem, but you might want to investigate.
"Ipconfig /All" Command Shows the Node Type as Unknown"

NBTSTAT –A ON XP PRO FOR COMPUTER01

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.20] Scope Id: []
NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table
Name Type Status
--------------------------
COMPUTER01 <00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MAC Address = 00-16-76-40-0C-87

There is not a "<20>" entry for this computer which would indicate that
the "Server" service may not be running on this computer. Only the
workstation "<00>" service seems to be running.

Start->Run->Services.msc
Look for the line that starts with "Server" make sure that the
"Startup Type" is Automatic and the "Status" is "Started". Double-
click on line to change.


HTH,
John

 

[Speedy]

Hi John,

Good news, things appear to be working now. As often happens I am not sure
exactly which thing it was. I am still investigating.

There was a number of process not running on the XP Pro machine though.

Is there a list somewhere of which are usefull for networking? Seems to be
rather a long list of things there. Also is there a way to capture this data
in a text file?

Again thanks for your assistance.

Regards,

Speedy

THIS WORKS. SEE DETAILS ABOVE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS
NEEDING EXPLANATIONS. WHO IS Master Browser?

An election is held for the Master Browser. The computer that shows an
entry of "__MSBROWSE__" in response to a "nbtstat" command is the
master browser.

I HAVE DONE THIS VIA START RUN CMD THEN COMMAND. IS THIS RIGHT?
THIS DOES NOT WORK THOUGH!

It should work if you do a "Start -> Run -> then enter
\\computername\share
It should also work if you enter it in an explorer address window.
It will not work if you bring up a command window (Start->Run->Cmd) and
enter it in the command window that pops up. This is normal.

IPCONFIG INDICATES NODE HYBRID ON XP PRO AND NONE ON XP HOME PC.
WHERE WOULD ONE CHANGE THIS ANYHOW?

"Hybrid" is OK. Not sure of "unknown". You're right, this is not easy
to change. If you need to do this, see the following article:

"You cannot view other workgroup computers on the network on a Windows
XP-based computer"

YES FORGTO TO MENTION ON THE XP HOME PC THERE IS NORTON INTERNET
SECURITY. THIS HAS BEEN SET TO ALLOW ALL PC ON THE LAN AND I HAVE
PUT A RULE WHICH ALLOWAS ALL TRAFFIC BETWEEN PC ON LAN. THIS
VERSION OF NORTON IS NOT PARTICULARY EASY TO CONFIGURE (MADE TO
LEAVE IT ALONE) ONE WOULD THINK THIS IS SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE
FIREWALL BLOCKING? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

If this were my situation, I would totally un-install the firewall and
reboot to confirm that this was or was not the problem (then re-
installing if it turns out not to be the problem). Or maybe as a first
step, try totally disabling the firewall if possible.

I have a couple of precisions and
questions. See below in CAPITALS.

Below is also the details of the various configurations:

IPCONFIG –ALL ON XP HOME (COMPAQ)

[...]
Type de nœud . . . . . . . . . . : Inconnu

Probably not a problem, but you might want to investigate.
"Ipconfig /All" Command Shows the Node Type as Unknown"

NBTSTAT –A ON XP PRO FOR COMPUTER01

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.20] Scope Id: []
NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table
Name Type Status
--------------------------
COMPUTER01 <00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MAC Address = 00-16-76-40-0C-87

There is not a "<20>" entry for this computer which would indicate that
the "Server" service may not be running on this computer. Only the
workstation "<00>" service seems to be running.

Start->Run->Services.msc
Look for the line that starts with "Server" make sure that the
"Startup Type" is Automatic and the "Status" is "Started". Double-
click on line to change.


HTH,
John

 

[John Wunderlich]

Good news, things appear to be working now. As often happens I am
not sure exactly which thing it was. I am still investigating.

Good. Thanks for the feedback.

There was a number of process not running on the XP Pro machine
though.

Is there a list somewhere of which are usefull for networking?
Seems to be rather a long list of things there. Also is there a
way to capture this data in a text file?

I assume you mean "services" instead of "processes"? It is normal for
some processes not to be running unless needed.
There is a program called "psservice" that is part of the "PSTools"
package from Microsoft. Download it, bring up a command window, "cd"
to the folder with psservice.exe in it, and enter the command:
psservice query >file.txt

PsTools:
<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896649.aspx>

HTH,
John