WINS/BROWSE PROBLEM

[dante]

I have 4 subnets A, B, C ,D, with w2k, when i browse
network neighborhod i cannot see computers in one
subnet,this is critcal for applications like backup i am
running, i have DC, WINS server in one subnet A and
another WINS server in subnet B,, at one point everything
has been okay till few days ago, any ideas,, i have
checked WINS all is configured correctly, nothing has
changed

 

[Herb Martin]

Are all the clients AND servers using the WINS
servers (in their NIC properties)?

Include even the WINS server itself as a WINS
client <-- IMPORTANT.

Are the two WINS servers REPLICATING?

Both clients and 'servers' must be WINS clients
of the SAME "database" (database = same server
OR servers that replicate.)

 

[Herb Martin]

Are the WINS servers fully populated with all the
entries for each machien AND a Master Browser
for each net?

You can cross check the Master Browser role with
BrowStat.exe from the MS ResKit (might be downloadable
too.)

 

[Steven L Umbach]

Just to add to Herbs' excellent advice [thanks for links in Security
NG also]. The domain controller that has pdc fsmo role should be master
browser. If it is dual homed [or any master browser] you will usually see
problems with split/incomplete browse lists, as possibly if any wins servers
are dual homed. Domain controllers/master browsers need to be wins clients
also. A wins server needs to point only to itself as it's wins server. Rras
server should not be allowed to be master browsers, as they are dual homed
even if they have one nic - the other one is a "virtual" network adapter. My
guess is that you have had a change in master browser somewhere. Yes
browstat can be downloaded, as a new GUI tool [browcon.exe]. See KB links
for more info. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;188305
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;133241
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191611
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=818092

 

[dante]

steve/Herb

I will try and tool and post my findings

-----Original Message-----
Just to add to Herbs' excellent advice [thanks for links in Security
NG also]. The domain controller that has pdc fsmo role should be master
browser. If it is dual homed [or any master browser] you will usually see
problems with split/incomplete browse lists, as possibly if any wins servers
are dual homed. Domain controllers/master browsers need to be wins clients
also. A wins server needs to point only to itself as it's wins server. Rras
server should not be allowed to be master browsers, as they are dual homed
even if they have one nic - the other one is a "virtual" network adapter. My
guess is that you have had a change in master browser somewhere. Yes
browstat can be downloaded, as a new GUI tool [browcon.exe]. See KB links
for more info. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN- US;188305

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-

US;133241
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191611
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=818092

Are the WINS servers fully populated with all the
entries for each machien AND a Master Browser
for each net?

You can cross check the Master Browser role with
BrowStat.exe from the MS ResKit (might be downloadable
too.)

.

 

[Herb Martin]

Windows 2000 will use the DNS server for the name resolution by default.

Why not use the DNS server?

We only need to setup one DNS server on the network. Point all computers
includes the DNS server to the DNS server.

Except that it is wrong. Browsing is a LEGACY application which
requires NetBIOS resolution for the Master Browser entries to work
across subnets.

Three ways to resolve these: 1) broadcast (per subnet) 2) Lmhosts files
(tedious)
3) WINS servers.

While Windows 2000 uses DNS for name resolution, some legacy clients AND
LEGACY application stil use NetBIOS resolution.