simple network configuration

[Guest]

I have a network configuration question. We have about 6 XP PC’s with fixed
IP addresses for DSL internet access and a mapped drive on an AS400. I’m
trying to share locally attached “paralell port†printers.
From all the PC’s I can find one PC’s printer by using \\myPC\printer
None of the other PC’s or printers are visible by PC name. However if I
use the IP address it works. (ex. \\192.1.1.1\hiddenprinter )
What am I missing?

Thanks, BILL

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Obviously, you have connectivity and file sharing - the problem is name
resolution. If your only source for name resolution is NetBIOS, make sure
this is enabled on all computers. If this does not solve the issue, the
next most likely culprit is a browser conflict - ie. one or more machines
are claiming to be the master browser or are unable to find a master to
obtain a browse list - you can diagnose this with the browstat utility. You
can get it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...76-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38&displaylang=en

If that doesn't help, there are several other possibilities. However, if
browsing is not really an issue for you AND since you have fixed IPs, then
the easiest way to solve this is with lmhosts files:

IP address computername #PRE

See:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...00/server/reskit/en-us/cnet/cnfd_lmh_ENTN.asp

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

How do I make sure NetBIOS is enabled?

Obviously, you have connectivity and file sharing - the problem is name
resolution. If your only source for name resolution is NetBIOS, make sure
this is enabled on all computers. If this does not solve the issue, the
next most likely culprit is a browser conflict - ie. one or more machines
are claiming to be the master browser or are unable to find a master to
obtain a browse list - you can diagnose this with the browstat utility. You
can get it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...76-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38&displaylang=en

If that doesn't help, there are several other possibilities. However, if
browsing is not really an issue for you AND since you have fixed IPs, then
the easiest way to solve this is with lmhosts files:

IP address computername #PRE

See:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...00/server/reskit/en-us/cnet/cnfd_lmh_ENTN.asp

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP