No Master or backup browsers on 2003/2000 network

Hi. We added a 2003 DC (following all the adprep steps etc) to a Windows
2000 Domain which previously only have 1 Domain Controller. All of the FSMO
roles are also on the new 2003 DC in preparation of the old 2000 DC being
demoted and replaced with a new 2003 DC. Since the addition of the new
server we have had network browsing problems. On running 'browstat status'
from a Windows XP workstation on the domain we get the . Based on some
previous testing, I believe a Windows 2000 Professional workstation which
had limited access to the network (via Vlans) had at one point taken the
Master Browser role. Since stopping the computer browser service on this
workstation, and restarting the browser service on the Windows 2003 and 2000
Domain Controllers we now have no master or backup browsers and are unable
to browse the network unless using direct UNC paths.

Can anyone advice where we can start to resolve this ?

Thanks,
Alex.

Sorry to post an update as quick but I think I was a little hasty in making
my first post. I have looked into this further and the problem seems to be
isolated to individual subnets. Our domain has a number of subnets
configured by vlan configurations on our switches. On subnets with only
workstations (particularly 2000 workstations), one workstation is becoming
the master browser for that subnet, with no secondary/backup browsers. When
this workstation then goes offline, all the other workstations in this
subnet cannot browse the network. The network consists of 2000 & 2003
Servers, and 2000 & XP workstations. We do not havge WINS configured or
running on the network.

I have started reading more documentation on how the browser service works
in a single domain with multiple subnets but haven't managed to find any
explanation regarding the situation described above where there is one
master, no backups and the master is switched. Why are none of the other
workstations in the subnet becoming secondary/backup browsers and when the
master goes offline why is an election not occurring ?

Thanks again,
Alex.


"Alex" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi. We added a 2003 DC (following all the adprep steps etc) to a Windows
> 2000 Domain which previously only have 1 Domain Controller. All of the
> FSMO roles are also on the new 2003 DC in preparation of the old 2000 DC
> being demoted and replaced with a new 2003 DC. Since the addition of the
> new server we have had network browsing problems. On running 'browstat
> status' from a Windows XP workstation on the domain we get the . Based on
> some previous testing, I believe a Windows 2000 Professional workstation
> which had limited access to the network (via Vlans) had at one point taken
> the Master Browser role. Since stopping the computer browser service on
> this workstation, and restarting the browser service on the Windows 2003
> and 2000 Domain Controllers we now have no master or backup browsers and
> are unable to browse the network unless using direct UNC paths.
>
> Can anyone advice where we can start to resolve this ?
>
> Thanks,
> Alex.
>

Alex wrote:

> Sorry to post an update as quick but I think I was a little hasty in making
> my first post. I have looked into this further and the problem seems to be
> isolated to individual subnets. Our domain has a number of subnets
> configured by vlan configurations on our switches. On subnets with only
> workstations (particularly 2000 workstations), one workstation is becoming
> the master browser for that subnet, with no secondary/backup browsers. When
> this workstation then goes offline, all the other workstations in this
> subnet cannot browse the network. The network consists of 2000 & 2003
> Servers, and 2000 & XP workstations. We do not havge WINS configured or
> running on the network.
>
> I have started reading more documentation on how the browser service works
> in a single domain with multiple subnets but haven't managed to find any
> explanation regarding the situation described above where there is one
> master, no backups and the master is switched. Why are none of the other
> workstations in the subnet becoming secondary/backup browsers and when the
> master goes offline why is an election not occurring ?

Maybe none of the workstations have the Computer Browser service
running? Or all have had registry edits to prevent them from becoming
Master or potential Backup browsers?

John