2 Questions: Hardware and Error 8003 1

[wahnula]

Hello folks,

I have been away for a while, which is a good thing, my SBS 2003SP1 home-brew server has been running over 200 days w/o any problems. I know forum protocol is one question per post, but both my questions are mere minor curiosities:

1. As my server ages (it's 2.5 y.o.) I am curious what I would do if the mainboard failed. I am currently running OS & apps on a RAID 1 array using the onboard nForce4 chipset, with data duties being handled by a RAID 5 array on a 3-Ware 9000 PCI card. If I were to buy a 2-controller card like their Escalade I could also place the RAID 1 array on that card (I plan on imaging the existing array and placing the full image on the new array as C. Would this move mean I could use any mainboard since I am booting off the PCI bus and not from a proprietary controller? My mainboard is no longer available to purchase a spare, except for used eBay boards.

2. On occasion, I get an error 8003:

The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer BRIAN01 that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip_{6C67F44C-DCE7-4B59-8. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced.

MS Help states:

RESOLUTION
To stop the 8003 error messages, make sure the routers on the network are not forwarding UDP broadcasts, keeping browser elections on NetBT local to each subnet and enable WINS or lmhosts on the network for netbios name resolution.

which may as well be Chinese to me. This user, Brian, has complained of dropped connections in the past. He is connecting via wireless. Net topo: Cable Modem->SonicWall->SBS2003 serving DHCP->Gigabit Switch->WAP, wired PCs and a Netgear hub connected to another WAP in the far reaches of the office.

Thanks all and Happy Holidays!



Tony

"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me

 

[ShackDaddy]

The 8003 error has no causal relationship to any connection drops that Brian is experiencing. Conversely, Brian's system may be appointing itself "master browser" BECAUSE his connection is dropping and he is no long able to reach the server. When his connection comes back up, his system is still broadcasting it's little junta noises, and that generates the 8003 error that you see.

There's no point in trying to stop the errors from happening, but you MAY be able to use them as an indicator of when his system has lost a connection to the network. Could be when someone is microwaving popcorn in the other room.

I don't know the answer to your hardware question.

Dave Shackelford
Shackelford Consulting

 

[wahnula]

Could be when someone is microwaving popcorn in the other room

LOL the office microwave sits at the 90 degree point of a right triangle formed by the microwave, the WAP and his PC.

his system is still broadcasting it's little junta noises

Thanks Dave for putting it in terms I can understand. Much appreciated. I will contact 3Ware (fabulous US-based support) about the RAID card issue.


Tony

"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me