Very Slow browse peer-to-peer network

[Edward]

I have recently started maintaining a small peer-to-peer network. Its is
comprised of 4-WinXP Home, 1-WinME, 1-Win98, and 1-Networked laser printer.
It seems that after adding two new WinXP PCs lately, browsing the network,
just to see the other PCs, takes 20-30 seconds at least.

I know there are known issues about this, and I have never experienced this
problem in networks with domain controllers.

Any good articles or references on this appreciated.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I have recently started maintaining a small peer-to-peer network. Its
is comprised of 4-WinXP Home, 1-WinME, 1-Win98, and 1-Networked laser
printer. It seems that after adding two new WinXP PCs lately,
browsing the network, just to see the other PCs, takes 20-30 seconds
at least.

Do the Win9x and WinME computers have file/printer sharing enabled, and is
it set to allow for browse master? (I'm paraphrasing - I don't have either
OS handy.) What protocols are installed on all PCs? TCP/IP alone should be
enough...

I know there are known issues about this, and I have never
experienced this problem in networks with domain controllers.

That's because in a domain, the workstations aren't competing for the role
of master browser - the server tells them to shut up and stop chatting, and
handles it itself.

Any good articles or references on this appreciated.

Check your event logs on the XP machines, to see if there are browser
errors. Also, if you power up all the machines, and leave them alone for a
bit before trying to log in & browse, do you find that there's any
difference? All the machines should have decided who is going to be elected
'boss' by that point, presuming NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all the XP
machines and the computer browser service is running.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Additionally, two of the WinXP's are SP1 and the two newest are SP2.
Some articles I've seen stated that installing SP1 resolved this

SP2 is a Good Thing and all your XP machines should be running it. I don't
believe this would be related to your browsing issue.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Sometimes this issue arises in XP/Win9x workgroups as a result of Win9x's
notorious refusal to accept defeat in browser elections with newer versions
of the OS. A possible fix is to remove the Win9x machines from the election
process. On the Win9x machines:

1. I think in File and Printer Sharing configuration, you can set Master
Browser to disabled.

Or

2. Use regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\Vnetsetup

Set the value for MaintainServerList to NO.

3. If the speed issue is primarily in accessing Win9x machines from XP
machines, try:

On the XP machines, run regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Remote
Computer\NameSpace\

Delete this key:

{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Edward]

Should the service pack level of the XP PCs matter? 2 are SP1, 2 are SP2.
This may have gotten worse after the two last SP2 PCs were added. Acts the
same without the Win98 PC even on. My ME PC is used as a proxy server with
Winproxy. Should deleting the XP registry key cause any other issues? I
haven't done that yet.
Thanks

 

[Rebecca Chen [MSFT]]

Hi Edward,

I agree with Doug that disable the browser on winME and win98 machine will
be a good step to isolate this issue. You can use the steps below to
disable the master browser service on win98 and winME system:

1. Right click My Network Place to choose Properties
2. Double click File and printer sharing for Mcrosoft Networks
3. Highlight Browse Master and choose Disable on Value section on right
pane.

On 3 XP machines, you can refer to the steps as Doug has mentioned and only
leave one XP machine to play the browser master role.
NOTE: Backup the reigstry before you take any action for security reason.

In addition, we stronly recommend you install SP 2 on XP mahcine since SP 2
has greatly enhanced the system security and performance. You may be
interested in the following link:

Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

More info:
==============
Now you can use Inernet Connection Sharing in WIndows XP to replace
winproxy on winME system. The following article is worth to take a look:
Description of Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310563

HTH!

Best regards,


Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA


Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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