Network Neighborhood browsing over router hosted VPN

We have a Netopia R5100 router which implements our VPN solution. Behind
that we have a Win 2003 server which is our DNS and domain controller. When
I connect with a client over the VPN I can map drives etc. if I specify an
IP address. I added a WINs server and now can usually map specifying the
machine name.

I still can't browse the network neighborhood. So I have the client's DNS
pointed to the Win 2003 server as well as the client's WINs setting pointing
to the Win 2003 server. Still can't browse.

The router is supposed to pass netbios through. Any suggestions?

Thanx!

this is master browser issue. quoted form http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How do I know I have a browser problem

When you open My Network Places, the computer list you see is obtaining from
the master browser of your network. You have a master browser issue if you
have the following symptoms. 1) If you can ping a computer name, you can
search it, you can map it, but that computer doesn't show or take long time
to show up on My Network Places.
2) Net view command shows no lists or shows "System error 6118 has occurred.
The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".
3) when clicking on Computers Near Me in My Network Places or workgroup name
in Entire Network, the following error message may appear: "Cannot Access
'Computers Near Me' " or "Workgroup is not accessible" errors.
4) when click workgroup name under Entire Network Places, you get "Workgroup
is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network
resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have
access permission. The list server for this workgroup is not currently
available."
5) Windows Explorer or My Network Places take a long time to open.
6) Event logs on servers show many master browser election messages.


--
For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

"timg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> We have a Netopia R5100 router which implements our VPN solution. Behind
> that we have a Win 2003 server which is our DNS and domain controller.
> When
> I connect with a client over the VPN I can map drives etc. if I specify an
> IP address. I added a WINs server and now can usually map specifying the
> machine name.
>
> I still can't browse the network neighborhood. So I have the client's DNS
> pointed to the Win 2003 server as well as the client's WINs setting
> pointing
> to the Win 2003 server. Still can't browse.
>
> The router is supposed to pass netbios through. Any suggestions?
>
> Thanx!
>
>

This is pretty common with a RAS or VPN connection. Even if the browser
service is working properly on the LAN, the remote has trouble getting a
browse list.

Although the domain master browser registers in WINS, the remote client
will only "see" it if it if it asks the right questions. To get the IP
address of the DMB, the client has to resolve the special Netbios name
<domainname 1B> , which is the name registered in WINS by the DMB. I have
fould that most remote users try to resolve the 1B address using the wrong
name for the "domain" part (because their original login was not to the
domain). And of course that fails. You could monitor the traffic coming over
the connection to see what request it sends to the name server.

Does it work if you use the "login using a dialup connection" option on
the client? This should make the remote use the right domain name.

"Robert L [MS-MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:#I0ZM$$(E-Mail Removed)...
> this is master browser issue. quoted form http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How do I know I have a browser problem
>
> When you open My Network Places, the computer list you see is obtaining
from
> the master browser of your network. You have a master browser issue if you
> have the following symptoms. 1) If you can ping a computer name, you can
> search it, you can map it, but that computer doesn't show or take long
time
> to show up on My Network Places.
> 2) Net view command shows no lists or shows "System error 6118 has
occurred.
> The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".
> 3) when clicking on Computers Near Me in My Network Places or workgroup
name
> in Entire Network, the following error message may appear: "Cannot Access
> 'Computers Near Me' " or "Workgroup is not accessible" errors.
> 4) when click workgroup name under Entire Network Places, you get
"Workgroup
> is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network
> resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have
> access permission. The list server for this workgroup is not currently
> available."
> 5) Windows Explorer or My Network Places take a long time to open.
> 6) Event logs on servers show many master browser election messages.
>
>
> --
> For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>
> Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
> Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more
help.
>
> Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
>
> "timg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > We have a Netopia R5100 router which implements our VPN solution.
Behind
> > that we have a Win 2003 server which is our DNS and domain controller.
> > When
> > I connect with a client over the VPN I can map drives etc. if I specify
an
> > IP address. I added a WINs server and now can usually map specifying
the
> > machine name.
> >
> > I still can't browse the network neighborhood. So I have the client's
DNS
> > pointed to the Win 2003 server as well as the client's WINs setting
> > pointing
> > to the Win 2003 server. Still can't browse.
> >
> > The router is supposed to pass netbios through. Any suggestions?
> >
> > Thanx!
> >
> >
>
>