WINS issue

I can ping a server's NetBios name but still cannot see it in My Network
Places on the server (backup server) after I use nbtstat -RR.

Thanks

The list you see in My network Places is built by the computer browser
service, not by WINS. The browse list is built by LAN broadcasts. WINS only
becomes involved if you have multiple subnets or segments which block
broadcasts.


"Ian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:F0BF3B60-22A4-4BB3-91E1-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I can ping a server's NetBios name but still cannot see it in My Network
> Places on the server (backup server) after I use nbtstat -RR.
>
> Thanks

Thanks. Yes, The servers are on different subnets and they are using the same
Primary WINS server and Secondary WINS server. Any idea? Thanks.

"Bill Grant" wrote:

> The list you see in My network Places is built by the computer browser
> service, not by WINS. The browse list is built by LAN broadcasts. WINS only
> becomes involved if you have multiple subnets or segments which block
> broadcasts.
>
>
> "Ian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:F0BF3B60-22A4-4BB3-91E1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I can ping a server's NetBios name but still cannot see it in My Network
> > Places on the server (backup server) after I use nbtstat -RR.
> >
> > Thanks
>
>
>

As Bill said, browsing across subnets (My Network Places) requires a WINS
server and a domain master browser (domainname 1B entry in WINS). You said
you had WINS server in place, so now follow all the steps below to determine
why the server is not showing up in My Network Places.

1) First, NetBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled if you want a computer to show
up in My Network Places. If NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled but the computer
still cannot be seen, go to step #2.
2) File & Print Sharing must be enabled
3) No host-based firewall blocking the NetBIOS ports 137, 138 & 139
4) Open a command prompt and run the following command on the problem
machine:

Net config server

If the output of 'Server hidden' displays 'Yes' that's the problem. If
value is 'No" go to step #5.
5) The machine description cannot be more than 48 characters or else the it
will not appear in Network Places.
6) A master browser on that subnet may have recently been turned off or
re-started. If no master browsers have been turned off or re-started
recently, go to step #7.
7) Go to the Local (Subnet) Master Browser and verify if you can see the
missing computer in it's Network Neighborhood. You determine a Local
(Subnet) Master Browser by running the command "browstat status" on any
computer in that subnet. Browstat.exe is a Resource Kit utility. If you
can find the missing computer in the Network Neighborhood of the Local
(Subnet) Master Browser, then go to the Domain Master Browser (which should
be the PDC Emulator in a Windows 2000 or above domain, or the PDC in an NT
4.0 domain (domainname 1B entry in WINS)), and see if you can find the
missing computer in it's Network Neighborhood. If you do not see the
missing computer then the problem is with the sharing of the browse list
between the Local (Subnet) Master Browser and the Domain Master Browser.
This can be caused by who has the IsDomainMaster setting in the registry.
Go to both the Local (Subnet) Master Browser and Domain Master Browser and
see and compare this registry setting. It exists at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Browser\Parameters

Normally, only the Domain Master Browser should be configured for the
IsDomainMaster setting. Without a PDC or PDCE, browsing is limited to the
local segment. (Only a PDC or PDCE has the ability to merge browse lists.)

Any server which can potentially be a Master Browser should have the
"IsDomainMaster" setting set to TRUE.

8) Restart the Computer Browser service on the Domain Master Browser (The
PDC of an NT 4 domain or the PDC Emulator of a Windows 2000 or above
domain). Although this may not be necessary it can't hurt.
9) Run the command browstat elect <transport> <domain> on a computer in the
subnet where browsing is a problem. You can obtain <transport> information
by running the command browstat status, and <domain> is the NetBIOS name of
you domain.

This forces an election in the subnet for a new Master Browser. A new
Master Browser will, hopefully, have the correct, updated list of NetBIOS
resources in the domain.

NOTE: A common end-user workstation can be a Subnet Master Browser and this
is not necessarily, in and of itself, a problem for domain browsing (esp. in
situations where there are no servers on that subnet). Most corporate
environments maintain servers in a common Data Center and therefore there
will be end-user workstations functioning as Subnet Master Browsers. As
long as it keeps an updated list all should be fine.

102878 - Information on Browser Operation:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=102878

102878 - Information on Browser Operation:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=102878

SRX040902603949
-----------------------------------
The first thing I would do is to disable the built in firewalls on the XP
SP2 computer or modify them so that they allow traffic from your subnet on
ports 137 UDP,138 UDP,139 TCP, and 445 TCP. If you are protected from the
internet by a router/firewall I would simply disable the ICF firewall on all
the computers. Also give some time for the browse list to build and be sure
to shut down the computers properly. Since you have a server I would also
configure wins on it and make sure that all computers are wins clients
including that the server is a wins client to itself.

By default netbios over tcp/ip should be enabled on all the computers
[tcp/ip properties/advanced/wins]. If you run Ipconfig /all it will tell you
ONLY if it is disabled. Running nbtstat -n on each computer should show at
least three name registries with the server probably showing more and at
least one computer needs to show that it is a master browser. Personal
firewalls or other "protection" software may interfere with the browse list
and often booting into safe mode with networking will bypass such programs.

11-16-04
S. Umbach

--
Todd J Heron, MCSE
Windows Server 2003/2000/NT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights

How much of this was written by S. Umbach?

"Todd J Heron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> As Bill said, browsing across subnets (My Network Places) requires a WINS
> server and a domain master browser (domainname 1B entry in WINS). You
> said
> you had WINS server in place, so now follow all the steps below to
> determine
> why the server is not showing up in My Network Places.
>
> 1) First, NetBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled if you want a computer to
> show
> up in My Network Places. If NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled but the
> computer
> still cannot be seen, go to step #2.
> 2) File & Print Sharing must be enabled
> 3) No host-based firewall blocking the NetBIOS ports 137, 138 & 139
> 4) Open a command prompt and run the following command on the problem
> machine:
>
> Net config server
>
> If the output of 'Server hidden' displays 'Yes' that's the problem. If
> value is 'No" go to step #5.
> 5) The machine description cannot be more than 48 characters or else the
> it
> will not appear in Network Places.
> 6) A master browser on that subnet may have recently been turned off or
> re-started. If no master browsers have been turned off or re-started
> recently, go to step #7.
> 7) Go to the Local (Subnet) Master Browser and verify if you can see the
> missing computer in it's Network Neighborhood. You determine a Local
> (Subnet) Master Browser by running the command "browstat status" on any
> computer in that subnet. Browstat.exe is a Resource Kit utility. If you
> can find the missing computer in the Network Neighborhood of the Local
> (Subnet) Master Browser, then go to the Domain Master Browser (which
> should
> be the PDC Emulator in a Windows 2000 or above domain, or the PDC in an NT
> 4.0 domain (domainname 1B entry in WINS)), and see if you can find the
> missing computer in it's Network Neighborhood. If you do not see the
> missing computer then the problem is with the sharing of the browse list
> between the Local (Subnet) Master Browser and the Domain Master Browser.
> This can be caused by who has the IsDomainMaster setting in the registry.
> Go to both the Local (Subnet) Master Browser and Domain Master Browser and
> see and compare this registry setting. It exists at:
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Browser\Parameters
>
> Normally, only the Domain Master Browser should be configured for the
> IsDomainMaster setting. Without a PDC or PDCE, browsing is limited to the
> local segment. (Only a PDC or PDCE has the ability to merge browse lists.)
>
> Any server which can potentially be a Master Browser should have the
> "IsDomainMaster" setting set to TRUE.
>
> 8) Restart the Computer Browser service on the Domain Master Browser (The
> PDC of an NT 4 domain or the PDC Emulator of a Windows 2000 or above
> domain). Although this may not be necessary it can't hurt.
> 9) Run the command browstat elect <transport> <domain> on a computer in
> the
> subnet where browsing is a problem. You can obtain <transport>
> information
> by running the command browstat status, and <domain> is the NetBIOS name
> of
> you domain.
>
> This forces an election in the subnet for a new Master Browser. A new
> Master Browser will, hopefully, have the correct, updated list of NetBIOS
> resources in the domain.
>
> NOTE: A common end-user workstation can be a Subnet Master Browser and
> this
> is not necessarily, in and of itself, a problem for domain browsing (esp.
> in
> situations where there are no servers on that subnet). Most corporate
> environments maintain servers in a common Data Center and therefore there
> will be end-user workstations functioning as Subnet Master Browsers. As
> long as it keeps an updated list all should be fine.
>
> 102878 - Information on Browser Operation:
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=102878
>
> 102878 - Information on Browser Operation:
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=102878
>
> SRX040902603949
> -----------------------------------
> The first thing I would do is to disable the built in firewalls on the XP
> SP2 computer or modify them so that they allow traffic from your subnet on
> ports 137 UDP,138 UDP,139 TCP, and 445 TCP. If you are protected from the
> internet by a router/firewall I would simply disable the ICF firewall on
> all
> the computers. Also give some time for the browse list to build and be
> sure
> to shut down the computers properly. Since you have a server I would also
> configure wins on it and make sure that all computers are wins clients
> including that the server is a wins client to itself.
>
> By default netbios over tcp/ip should be enabled on all the computers
> [tcp/ip properties/advanced/wins]. If you run Ipconfig /all it will tell
> you
> ONLY if it is disabled. Running nbtstat -n on each computer should show at
> least three name registries with the server probably showing more and at
> least one computer needs to show that it is a master browser. Personal
> firewalls or other "protection" software may interfere with the browse
> list
> and often booting into safe mode with networking will bypass such
> programs.
>
> 11-16-04
> S. Umbach
>
> --
> Todd J Heron, MCSE
> Windows Server 2003/2000/NT
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights
>
>

Open My Network places on the problem server; does
it show up in its own list? If you've gone through Todd
Heron's crockpot of suggestions without success then
first make sure your router is not using a Netbios helper
or forwarding broadcasts of any kind, this will cause the
problem server to register it's name with a remote SMB
instead of it's local SMB, a sure way to tell is to look
for 8003/8005 error in system log of the event viewer.
If all checks out then use Network Monitor on the problem
server and see exactly where the host name announcement
packets are going. Most of browse problems occur when
a client registers it's name with a different SMB (segment
master browser) than the rest of the network.

"Ian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> Thanks. Yes, The servers are on different subnets and they are using the
> same
> Primary WINS server and Secondary WINS server. Any idea? Thanks.

Michael - he's quoted under the line break "-------------------------------"
line. My notes are above the SRX number.

tjh

Michael -

After a bit of debating about it I feel that I must respond to your comment
of "If you've gone through Todd Heron's crockpot of suggestions without
success..."

I have followed these groups off and on for several years and you like we
all have seen the classic problem of "missing computer in Network Places but
can map a drive to it's shares" many, many times. Countless times. There
have been (almost) equally countless answers to this problem from all over
the boards and the way I attack these types of multi-faceted problems is to
build a solutions database, and over a period of time, if the problem is
complex enough, build a step-by-step method of resolving it in a logical
order beginning from the easiest to most difficult (or time-consuming) step
to resolve the problem. While I am proud of my 9-step approach, is still
incomplete, and certainly can still use improvement in terms of delivery and
order of steps. I certainly appreciate any positive comments concerning an
additional step I may have missed, or a re-wording of one which is already
in there.

I recently read in this very group itself, someone commenting that Mark
Minasi once stated even he could not figure out all the browsing problems he
has ever encountered. I think we can all say that, especially in here, when
many of the original poster's comments are incomplete or incorrectly worded.
Thus my "cookbook recipe" (that's what I like to call it) to solve this type
of browsing problem. And yes, I have taken comments from others here such
as Steven, Bill Grant, yourself, and have re-worded many previous replies
correcting for grammatical errors, syntax, context and enhancing with my own
thoughts. The intent is two-fold, one that it may help the OP, and two,
that it may help me in the field when I am not near an Internet connection.
When the point comes that I have re-written and edited something so many
times that it can no longer be contributed to an individual author, I
consider the work to be my own. Point is, if you believe that I have
aggrieved someone's intellectual property of a newsgroup posting, I
emphatically disagree. Second point is, while I appreciate comments to my
postings based on technical merits I do not when they are colored with an
off-handed remark. While you are certainly entitled to do so, this tends to
confuse the OP who may in turn disregard a post in it's entirety and
altogether miss a potential solution.

To clarify further, my original post in this thread was made at 3:16AM, and
I live on the east coast, USA. I was a bit bleary-eyed. My solutions
database is based on as I mentioned many different angles and sources. I
use that solutions database for myself and for the benefit of others here.
When I quote someone, I try to indicate the source and the date, so that I
(and myself) can backtrack through Google and re-look up the original
context of a problem if necessary. I made the mistake of not putting what
was directly attributable to Steven Umbach in " " quotes, however you can
clearly see an effort to include his name along with a date. That SRX
number from Microsoft was a case we opened with when steps 1 -8 did not
resolve the problem but #9 did. That number should not have been
broadcasted but since the hour was late I sloppily (and my wife agrees)
posted that in together with Steven's previous comments. You can also see
where my # 1 - 9 steps are more broad and encompassing than his. Not to
take anything away from Steven, he is a great contributor to this group, it
is just at the time I felt I needed to save that post he made based on what
I felt was a certain quality I needed to capture in my own answer. To be
sure, this has been now changed to a URL link to his original comments.
Most of my attributions to others are in quoted form, with the original
author's name, but some are simply shorn in better as google URL links,
especially in the long answers such as this one.

I have seen you to be quite helpful in these groups over the years,
often-times sticking with the OP until conclusion of the problem or
exhaustion of all possible avenues of known solutions. I am not sure if you
intended slight in the other post in relation to "How much of this was
written by S. Umbach?" or in this post relating to the "crockpot of
suggestions without success" remark. I have given you the benefit of the
doubt and assume that you hadn't, because if you did intend slight, I would
be very surprised and a bit hurt by them given the degree to which I
professionally respect and admire you.


--
Todd J Heron, MCSE
Windows Server 2003/2000/NT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights

Easy Todd, you read way too much into my response..
Your crockpot of ideas is quite impressive to say the
least and hits on almost all of the browse related
troubleshooting steps.. I meant literally if your
suggestions didn't fix his problem there are other
steps.


"Todd J Heron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Michael -
>
> After a bit of debating about it I feel that I must respond to your
> comment
> of "If you've gone through Todd Heron's crockpot of suggestions without
> success..."
>
> I have followed these groups off and on for several years and you like we
> all have seen the classic problem of "missing computer in Network Places
> but
> can map a drive to it's shares" many, many times. Countless times. There
> have been (almost) equally countless answers to this problem from all over
> the boards and the way I attack these types of multi-faceted problems is
> to
> build a solutions database, and over a period of time, if the problem is
> complex enough, build a step-by-step method of resolving it in a logical
> order beginning from the easiest to most difficult (or time-consuming)
> step
> to resolve the problem. While I am proud of my 9-step approach, is still
> incomplete, and certainly can still use improvement in terms of delivery
> and
> order of steps. I certainly appreciate any positive comments concerning
> an
> additional step I may have missed, or a re-wording of one which is already
> in there.
>
> I recently read in this very group itself, someone commenting that Mark
> Minasi once stated even he could not figure out all the browsing problems
> he
> has ever encountered. I think we can all say that, especially in here,
> when
> many of the original poster's comments are incomplete or incorrectly
> worded.
> Thus my "cookbook recipe" (that's what I like to call it) to solve this
> type
> of browsing problem. And yes, I have taken comments from others here such
> as Steven, Bill Grant, yourself, and have re-worded many previous replies
> correcting for grammatical errors, syntax, context and enhancing with my
> own
> thoughts. The intent is two-fold, one that it may help the OP, and two,
> that it may help me in the field when I am not near an Internet
> connection.
> When the point comes that I have re-written and edited something so many
> times that it can no longer be contributed to an individual author, I
> consider the work to be my own. Point is, if you believe that I have
> aggrieved someone's intellectual property of a newsgroup posting, I
> emphatically disagree. Second point is, while I appreciate comments to my
> postings based on technical merits I do not when they are colored with an
> off-handed remark. While you are certainly entitled to do so, this tends
> to
> confuse the OP who may in turn disregard a post in it's entirety and
> altogether miss a potential solution.
>
> To clarify further, my original post in this thread was made at 3:16AM,
> and
> I live on the east coast, USA. I was a bit bleary-eyed. My solutions
> database is based on as I mentioned many different angles and sources. I
> use that solutions database for myself and for the benefit of others here.
> When I quote someone, I try to indicate the source and the date, so that I
> (and myself) can backtrack through Google and re-look up the original
> context of a problem if necessary. I made the mistake of not putting what
> was directly attributable to Steven Umbach in " " quotes, however you can
> clearly see an effort to include his name along with a date. That SRX
> number from Microsoft was a case we opened with when steps 1 -8 did not
> resolve the problem but #9 did. That number should not have been
> broadcasted but since the hour was late I sloppily (and my wife agrees)
> posted that in together with Steven's previous comments. You can also see
> where my # 1 - 9 steps are more broad and encompassing than his. Not to
> take anything away from Steven, he is a great contributor to this group,
> it
> is just at the time I felt I needed to save that post he made based on
> what
> I felt was a certain quality I needed to capture in my own answer. To be
> sure, this has been now changed to a URL link to his original comments.
> Most of my attributions to others are in quoted form, with the original
> author's name, but some are simply shorn in better as google URL links,
> especially in the long answers such as this one.
>
> I have seen you to be quite helpful in these groups over the years,
> often-times sticking with the OP until conclusion of the problem or
> exhaustion of all possible avenues of known solutions. I am not sure if
> you
> intended slight in the other post in relation to "How much of this was
> written by S. Umbach?" or in this post relating to the "crockpot of
> suggestions without success" remark. I have given you the benefit of the
> doubt and assume that you hadn't, because if you did intend slight, I
> would
> be very surprised and a bit hurt by them given the degree to which I
> professionally respect and admire you.
>
>
> --
> Todd J Heron, MCSE
> Windows Server 2003/2000/NT
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights
>
>

Thanks Todd, I just wanted to clarify which
were S. Umbach's comments.

"Todd J Heron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> Michael - he's quoted under the line break
> "-------------------------------"
> line. My notes are above the SRX number.
>
> tjh
>
>