When you access shares via My Network Places you rely on the ability of the "browse
list" as shown in My Network Places to find the shares. If the share can not be
found, you can not make a connection without knowing the share server name or IP
address. When you map a drive you bypass the browse list and make a direct connection
using either netbios name resolution or dns host name resolution if you specify a
computer name or you also can use the IP address of the computer to bypass name
resolution which only works well for computers that don't have changing IP addresses
such as DHCP clients without a reservation would have. If you have a properly
configured firewall, up to date virus protection that scans all emails also, keep
current on critical updates, and use complex passwords you should be in good shape
security wise from internet attacks assuming you are careful in what you download and
install on your computer.
I find that browsing problems are usually related to firewalls or other IP filtering
blocking access, master browsers having more than one nic, no current master browser
on the network because the other computers can not be one [they all can by default],
computers frequently being started up or shut down, browsing across subnets without
wins or lmhosts files, file and print sharing not being installed, the server service
not running, or netbios over tcp/ip is not enabled on a computer which Ipconfig /all
will inform you of. Note that it can take up to an hour or so for a computer to
appear in the browse list if the master browser is shut down. The command nbtstat -n
will show if a computer is a master browser and give it's other current netbios name
registrations. See the link below if you want to learn more about the browse
service. --- Steve
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...4/tcpappi.mspx
"tom mitchell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Steve,
> thanks for that.
> I don't think it's the firewalls as the local network is properly set
> up in Zones.
> However, mapping the drives seems to work.
> What exactly is the difference in accessing files via mapped drives
> instead of my network neighbourhood? Are there any security or other
> issues that I should be aware of?
>
> Kind Regards
> Tom
>
>
> On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 21:49:16 -0500, "Steven L Umbach"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>If you enable firewalls on the lan they can cause problems like you are
>>experiencing.
>>Most can be configured with trusted zones to allow traffic from network computers.
>>It
>>sounds like the browse list is being blocked which uses port 138 udp. If you have a
>>cable/dsl modem you might want to consider using a NAT router/firewall to protect
>>the
>>lan and not use a gateway computer. XP SP2 has the ICF firewall enabled by default
>>but you can configure it to allow an exception for file and print sharing and edit
>>the exception so that the scope is the lan subnet. Otherwise you can just live with
>>it an map drives instead of browsing My Network Places. --- Steve
>>
>>
>>"tom mitchell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
>>> Situation: Local network with 4 pc
>>> PC A: Internet Gateway PC W2000 running Zone Alarm Pro
>>> PC B: XP recently installed SP2 and enabled inbuilt Firewall, changed
>>> to Kerio
>>> PC C: W98
>>> PD D: XP
>>>
>>> All are networked. Internet access works fine and initially the local
>>> network works fine too.
>>>
>>> Problem: After about 2 hours PC C is no longer able to see PC B.
>>> Checking via Network Neighbourhood it appears that PC B has
>>> gone/dropped off. Strangely enough, those files that are accessed via
>>> the "recently used file list " in Word or Excel or that have shortcuts
>>> on the desktop are still available. Using Explorer or open file in
>>> Word does not work. So in fact the connection is still there but just
>>> does not show up anymore, meaning saving files across is
>>> impossible.Also, the conncection from PCB to PC C remains normal.
>>>
>>> Once I reboot PC C, everything is back to normal until the next drop
>>> out.
>>> This only started since SP2 was installed and seems to affect both PC
>>> A and C. I thought it might have something to do with XP firewall but
>>> after disabling it and installing Kerio FW, the same problem is still
>>> occurring.
>>>
>>> Any idea how to fix this? Is this something I can adjust in the XP
>>> firewall?
>>>
>>> Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
>>> Kind Regards
>>> Tom
>>>
>>> Please post to this newsgroup
>>
>
> Kind Regards
> Tom
>
> Please post to this newsgroup
Similar Threads
Linear Mode
