strange networking issue

I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in my
network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well as
typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
name tho).

how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
the server see the client pcs?

It could be master browser issue. What's the system error code if using net
view command?

Computer BrowserThe master browser has received a server announcement from
the computer <computer ... You have a master browser issue if you have the
following symptoms. ...
www.chicagotech.net/browser.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com


"joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
> clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
> but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in
> my
> network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well
> as
> typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
> name tho).
>
> how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
> the server see the client pcs?
>

What exactly do you mean by "see the client pcs"? Are we talking about
Network Places?

The first thing to note is that this works on Netbios names, not DNS
names. Make sure that all machines have Netbios over TCP/IP enabled. The
next thing to check is does the DC have any other network connection. This
can also upset browsing.

Also make sure that the workstations have at least one file shared. They
will not show up in a browse list if they have nothing shared.

"joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
> clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
> but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in
> my
> network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well
> as
> typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
> name tho).
>
> how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
> the server see the client pcs?
>

In addition to the other answers you've received it sounds like DNS may not
be configured properly. Are the clients using only the DC for a DNS server?

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/



"joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
> clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
> but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in
> my
> network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well
> as
> typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
> name tho).
>
> how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
> the server see the client pcs?
>

The clients are also using the router outside of the room/network as a DHCP
server, which distributes the IP addresses for the entire building. There is
a computer outside that is NOT part of the domain.

But if I remove DNS will it affect my AD settings? Because I do not want to
lose em.

oh and, thanks for the reply everyone!

"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> In addition to the other answers you've received it sounds like DNS may not
> be configured properly. Are the clients using only the DC for a DNS server?
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/
>
>
>
> "joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
> > clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
> > but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in
> > my
> > network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well
> > as
> > typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
> > name tho).
> >
> > how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
> > the server see the client pcs?
> >
>

yep, exactly. the server cannot see anyone in Network Places, under its
domain, not even itself. But both clients can see each other.

the server is connected to a switch which connects it to both clients, and
the switch is connected to the router.

I will try installing netbios/IPX on the server to see what will happen.
Thanks for the reply

"Bill Grant" wrote:

> What exactly do you mean by "see the client pcs"? Are we talking about
> Network Places?
>
> The first thing to note is that this works on Netbios names, not DNS
> names. Make sure that all machines have Netbios over TCP/IP enabled. The
> next thing to check is does the DC have any other network connection. This
> can also upset browsing.
>
> Also make sure that the workstations have at least one file shared. They
> will not show up in a browse list if they have nothing shared.
>
> "joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
> > clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
> > but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in
> > my
> > network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well
> > as
> > typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
> > name tho).
> >
> > how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
> > the server see the client pcs?
> >
>
>

Net View says there are no entries. I've tried doing the steps in the master
browser thing, but it's still not really working out. thanks for the reply

"Robert L. (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> It could be master browser issue. What's the system error code if using net
> view command?
>
> Computer BrowserThe master browser has received a server announcement from
> the computer <computer ... You have a master browser issue if you have the
> following symptoms. ...
> www.chicagotech.net/browser.htm
>
>
> --
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>
>
> "joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs as
> > clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network place
> > but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well in
> > my
> > network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as well
> > as
> > typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept server's
> > name tho).
> >
> > how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I make
> > the server see the client pcs?
> >
>

For active directory to work properly the domain controller should be a DNS
server and the domain clients should only be using the DC for DNS. If you
need the clients to also access the Internet then you can set up forwarders
or root hints on the DNS server. The outside DHCP server may also cause
problems but getting DNS working properly is the first step. If this is a
test/lab/learning network then you may want to get a cheap router to hook up
to the building network and hook up your test network to this router. Turn
off DHCP on this router and configure the DC to be the DHCP and DNS server.
Make sure you talk to the building network admins before doing this as they
may not want you to set this up.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/



"joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ED9D6811-21D9-4362-8F76-(E-Mail Removed)...
> The clients are also using the router outside of the room/network as a
> DHCP
> server, which distributes the IP addresses for the entire building. There
> is
> a computer outside that is NOT part of the domain.
>
> But if I remove DNS will it affect my AD settings? Because I do not want
> to
> lose em.
>
> oh and, thanks for the reply everyone!
>
> "Kerry Brown" wrote:
>
>> In addition to the other answers you've received it sounds like DNS may
>> not
>> be configured properly. Are the clients using only the DC for a DNS
>> server?
>>
>> --
>> Kerry Brown
>> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
>> http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/
>>
>>
>>
>> "joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs
>> >as
>> > clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network
>> > place
>> > but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well
>> > in
>> > my
>> > network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as
>> > well
>> > as
>> > typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept
>> > server's
>> > name tho).
>> >
>> > how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I
>> > make
>> > the server see the client pcs?
>> >
>>

the server can now see itself in my network places, but not the other two
clients. Do I need to install netbios on the clients as well? but the clients
are kinda OK at the moment.

For now AD is working properly as the accounts and permissions set on the
active directory is working on the other two clients. I'm wondering if I
remove DNS from the server will it affect?

Also, if I set up the server as the DNS and DHCP server, will the internet
for the PC outside the network be affected if the server is turned off?

"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> For active directory to work properly the domain controller should be a DNS
> server and the domain clients should only be using the DC for DNS. If you
> need the clients to also access the Internet then you can set up forwarders
> or root hints on the DNS server. The outside DHCP server may also cause
> problems but getting DNS working properly is the first step. If this is a
> test/lab/learning network then you may want to get a cheap router to hook up
> to the building network and hook up your test network to this router. Turn
> off DHCP on this router and configure the DC to be the DHCP and DNS server.
> Make sure you talk to the building network admins before doing this as they
> may not want you to set this up.
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/
>
>
>
> "joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:ED9D6811-21D9-4362-8F76-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > The clients are also using the router outside of the room/network as a
> > DHCP
> > server, which distributes the IP addresses for the entire building. There
> > is
> > a computer outside that is NOT part of the domain.
> >
> > But if I remove DNS will it affect my AD settings? Because I do not want
> > to
> > lose em.
> >
> > oh and, thanks for the reply everyone!
> >
> > "Kerry Brown" wrote:
> >
> >> In addition to the other answers you've received it sounds like DNS may
> >> not
> >> be configured properly. Are the clients using only the DC for a DNS
> >> server?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Kerry Brown
> >> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> >> http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "joey matthew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> news658E41F-36AE-4C41-8FBD-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >I have a win2k3 server running as a domain controller connected to 2 PCs
> >> >as
> >> > clients. The problem is the clients can see each other in my network
> >> > place
> >> > but cannot see the server. the server cannot see both clients as well
> >> > in
> >> > my
> >> > network place. However, keying in the IP address of the computers as
> >> > well
> >> > as
> >> > typing in the names of the computers works (clients cannot accept
> >> > server's
> >> > name tho).
> >> >
> >> > how do I make the server show itself on the client pcs, and how do I
> >> > make
> >> > the server see the client pcs?
> >> >
> >>
>