win 2003 server and subnet communications

I have a server running windows 2003 server (standard), this server
runs my Veritas Backup Exec. I can't see my pc's, that are in a
different subnet in BE. I called Veritas and that noticed that Windows
can't browse to these pc's either. What networking function (??)
populates the browse in windows when you are trying to map a drive. I
don't know much about networking, this subnet was setup by our
networking group.

Thanks for any help
Mike

The browse list is built by the computer browser service. It builds the
browse list using LAN broadcasts. Most routers block these broadcasts, so
you won't see machines in a different subnet.

Browsing across routers requires two things. The first is at least one
DC. Only a domain controller has the software necessary to build a network
wide browse list. The second requirement is a way to resolve browser special
names to IP addresses (so that they can find other browsers across routers).
For all practical purposes that means a WINS server. (It is theoretically
possible to do it with LMHOSTS entries).

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>I have a server running windows 2003 server (standard), this server
> runs my Veritas Backup Exec. I can't see my pc's, that are in a
> different subnet in BE. I called Veritas and that noticed that Windows
> can't browse to these pc's either. What networking function (??)
> populates the browse in windows when you are trying to map a drive. I
> don't know much about networking, this subnet was setup by our
> networking group.
>
> Thanks for any help
> Mike
>

The browse list is built by the computer browser service. It builds the
browse list using LAN broadcasts. Most routers block these broadcasts, so
you won't see machines in a different subnet.

Browsing across routers requires two things. The first is at least one
DC. Only a domain controller has the software necessary to build a network
wide browse list. The second requirement is a way to resolve browser special
names to IP addresses (so that they can find other browsers across routers).
For all practical purposes that means a WINS server. (It is theoretically
possible to do it with LMHOSTS entries).

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>I have a server running windows 2003 server (standard), this server
> runs my Veritas Backup Exec. I can't see my pc's, that are in a
> different subnet in BE. I called Veritas and that noticed that Windows
> can't browse to these pc's either. What networking function (??)
> populates the browse in windows when you are trying to map a drive. I
> don't know much about networking, this subnet was setup by our
> networking group.
>
> Thanks for any help
> Mike
>

The pc's are on 2003 AD. The WINS server is NT4. Do I need the browse
service enabled on the pc's? do I need enable netbios over tcp/ip or
leave it as getting it from dhcp?

Thanks for all the replies
Mike



Bill Grant wrote:
> The browse list is built by the computer browser service. It builds the
> browse list using LAN broadcasts. Most routers block these broadcasts, so
> you won't see machines in a different subnet.
>
> Browsing across routers requires two things. The first is at least one
> DC. Only a domain controller has the software necessary to build a network
> wide browse list. The second requirement is a way to resolve browser special
> names to IP addresses (so that they can find other browsers across routers).
> For all practical purposes that means a WINS server. (It is theoretically
> possible to do it with LMHOSTS entries).
>
> "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
> >I have a server running windows 2003 server (standard), this server
> > runs my Veritas Backup Exec. I can't see my pc's, that are in a
> > different subnet in BE. I called Veritas and that noticed that Windows
> > can't browse to these pc's either. What networking function (??)
> > populates the browse in windows when you are trying to map a drive. I
> > don't know much about networking, this subnet was setup by our
> > networking group.
> >
> > Thanks for any help
> > Mike
> >

You will need at least one machine in the "missing" subnet to have the
browser service running. It has to act as the local browse master (ie it
builds a browse list for the local segment/subnet using broadcasts). Also
check that _all_ machines are set to use the WINS server (so that they all
register in WINS and use WINS for name resolution).

If machines are set to use WINS they should automatically get Netbios
over TCP/IP enabled.

The tool for troubleshooting browser problems is browstat from system
tools. This will show you which machines are browse masters.

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> The pc's are on 2003 AD. The WINS server is NT4. Do I need the browse
> service enabled on the pc's? do I need enable netbios over tcp/ip or
> leave it as getting it from dhcp?
>
> Thanks for all the replies
> Mike
>
>
>
> Bill Grant wrote:
>> The browse list is built by the computer browser service. It builds the
>> browse list using LAN broadcasts. Most routers block these broadcasts, so
>> you won't see machines in a different subnet.
>>
>> Browsing across routers requires two things. The first is at least
>> one
>> DC. Only a domain controller has the software necessary to build a
>> network
>> wide browse list. The second requirement is a way to resolve browser
>> special
>> names to IP addresses (so that they can find other browsers across
>> routers).
>> For all practical purposes that means a WINS server. (It is theoretically
>> possible to do it with LMHOSTS entries).
>>
>> "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>> >I have a server running windows 2003 server (standard), this server
>> > runs my Veritas Backup Exec. I can't see my pc's, that are in a
>> > different subnet in BE. I called Veritas and that noticed that Windows
>> > can't browse to these pc's either. What networking function (??)
>> > populates the browse in windows when you are trying to map a drive. I
>> > don't know much about networking, this subnet was setup by our
>> > networking group.
>> >
>> > Thanks for any help
>> > Mike
>> >
>