Can't browse computers under My network Places

We have a small LAN here at the office. There is a PDC with Windows 2000 Advanced Server and a fileserver with Windows 2000 Server. There are 19 clients.

Intermittently (more often than not) users cannot browse My Network Places --> Entire Network --> Microsoft Windows Network --> DomainX --> ... At this point, sometimes there are computers listed and sometimes there are not. They are always able to use Start --> Run --> \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx or \\Computername\share.

Sometimes after using the Run command, the browsing through My Network Places will start to function.

We run into a problem here because they are unable to "browse" network resources when opening or saving files in applications.


Dear Lord, somebody please tell me why before my head explodes!

 

the first thing that comes to mind is browsing services.

Is it always the same users that cannot see other computers? If it is always the same ones then check and see if thier Computer Browser service is running (in services).

If not then check your DC's error logs for browser or master browser errors.

anyway, i might be on the wrong track here
but these things are easy to check.

 

Yup. Browsing service is probably your culprit.

With your setup, only the DC and the file server (as a backup) should have browser service running. The others should not. You don't say what client operating systems but on NT/2K/XP, just stop and then disable the service. On 9X/ME, you have to get into the NIC settings and firmly tell the PC it is never, ever to try to become domain master browser.

After that, if problems continue, you will need to look in the event logs (especially on the DC) for browser related errors or warnings and post them here. Easiest is to open an event, click on the icon below the up/down arrows to send a text copy to the clipboard, and then paste it here. That way all the information is there and you didn't have to type a bunch.

 

Is there a group policy setting for browsing?

 

Not sure about 98 and ME but in Win2K and XP
go to regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControllSet / Services / Browser / Parameters / IsDomainMaster
Change to false.

 

browse gpo

dont mean to derail this too far ....

I have tired to make a gpo for browser service, but never got it to work. Basically just tried making a policy for Computer Browser to "manual" or "disabled ".

Anyone ever get this to work? We have employed the "reg hack" to get browse lists under control, but it would be great to get it going by policy.

tx for any input

 

No Luck

I'm still having trouble with this browsing thing. I have IsDomainMaster set to false on every machine except the PDC.
When I try to browse computers through My Network Places, I still get blank or incomplete listings... for example, today I am only getting server and computer1 in the list.

 

Try it in "Safe Mode With Networking" and tell us what the results are.

 

safe mode

I can't reboot during business hours...

 

Now I have some clients showing all computers and some aren't.

Neither one of my servers gets a full listing now, either

 

Did you turn the brousing service off on the file server?

 

Here's an idea...

Here's a little topo - Cable Modem is connected to a 2k pro computer that runs my firewall software. It is connected to my PDC which is in turn connected to my switch. All clients and my Fileserver are connected to the switch. Does this mean my PDC is multi-homed? If so, then am i getting incomplete browse lists because of the multiple NICs?

Can I solve this by connecting the firewall computer directly to the switch, removing the second NIC from my PDC, and connecting it to the switch only?

 

reply to ssmith10pn

I tried with IsDomainMaster set to false and MaintainServerList set to No on Fileserver and results did not change.

Since I have a Primary Domain Controller, won't it always be the Domain Browse Master, no matter what the others are configured as?

 

It should, but I have seen a machine with more resources win that battle before.

The reason I asked you to try it in safe mode is because I'm suspious this is a software firewall issue.

 

The firewall is on a seperate box.

 

John - if I understand you correctly you have two NICs in your PDC that are both on the same network (same subnet). This is not a good idea at all. Causes all sorts of problems and very possibly the browsing issue you have.

Connecting your firewall computer to the switch will stop if from being a master firewall for your network.

Easiest thing I can think of is to put your firewall PC and the PDC NIC it connects to on the same but a different subnet from the rest of the PCs and set up a route table on the PDC so everyone can talk. Static address for the firewall PC as well.

As to the browse master thing - I still suggest you have the PDC and the file server both able to act as master browser. The PDC will normally do the job but it does give you a backup.

As to turning it off on all the other machines - you are correct that the PDC should always win elections and maybe always will. But why put up with the overhead that forcing elections causes?

 

Will it stop it from being the master firewall if the cable modem still attatches to the firewall box? Internet traffic will still have to pass through it, right?

 

John - sorry, I must have had one of those senior memory momemts.

You are correct that if the modem connects to a PC that is acting as modem sharing host and the other PCs are using it as their internet gateway, you'll still have firewall protection for all.

I had somehow gotten in my head that you were using a router/switch to do the sharing. Doh!!!

 

Hey Newt

I love it when the random shot in the dark fixes a problem...

I re-installed Service Pack 3 and all my browsing problems STOPPED... immediately... including some problems with windows not releasing users from AutoCad files...


hmmm.

 

John - me too.