Browsing problems

[forumit]

We have domain on WAN environment. One site seems to "lose" their file server all the time from the browsing list (Network Places)and only the devices at the site will appear if you browse the domain.
What can cause this to happen? DNS etc seems to work fine.

 

[forumit]

Can anyone assist with this as i'm unable to resolve this.

 

[people3]

HI,

We will need some more information.

What OS is the PC's and servers

Does each site have a AD server?

Is the server they 'loose' at the same site?

Is there a DNS server at each site?

After they loose the server from browsing - can you still ping the server?

 

[NortonES2]

Might be the case here

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889320

-------------------------------

If it doesn't leak oil it must be empty!!

 

[NetIntruder]

Can you elaborate on how WINS is set up in your environment please? The issue you describe reeks of master browser wars on your network. You can check this by using browmon.exe or browstat.exe and check if the master is changing frequently.

~Intruder~
CREA,CISSP,CEH,CEPT,MCSE,MCSA,GWAS,GCWN

 

[forumit]

What OS is the PC's and servers - XP & 2003 server

Does each site have a AD server? Yes

Is the server they 'loose' at the same site? Yes

Is there a DNS server at each site? Yes

After they loose the server from browsing - can you still ping the server? Yes

Find lots of master browser issues (elections)in the event logs.
Have one WINS server running at a different site in Domain.
All servers & workstations point to this WINS.

 

[people3]

HI as Netintruder said this sounds like a master browser issue

These may be of help

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../server/reskit/en-us/net/chptr3.mspx?mfr=true

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/843517

 

[NetIntruder]

ok, use browmon or browstat to find which servers are causing the elections and supress them with this:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters]
"IsDomainMaster"="FALSE"
"MaintainServerList"="Auto"

Then restart the computer browser service on the machine that was causing the election. Rinse and repeat until only the Master you want is the master.

~Intruder~
CREA,CISSP,CEH,CEPT,MCSE,MCSA,GWAS,GCWN

 

[forumit]

The DC at the site in question is the Master Browser but the file server is still missing from My Network Places. All the other devices at the site are showing up in My Network Places.

 

[NetIntruder]

ok, let's completely rule out WINS and master browser though - if you keep refreshing the master broswer list in the tools, is the master changing at all? Also, does the backup browser show the same number of domains/computers?

~Intruder~
CREA,CISSP,CEH,CEPT,MCSE,MCSA,GWAS,GCWN

 

[forumit]

Is the master browser different for each site?
At problem site the DC is the master browser and a computer (from another site) the backup. At my site the DC is also the master browser as well as the backup.
Master browser not changing and same number of domain/servers shows up.

 

[NetIntruder]

ok, that's good as far as master browser goes. This changes on a per-subnet basis, but if you're not flopping entries, then you should be in good shape with this aspect. Just curious though, do you have WINS forward lookup configured in DNS for your internal zone?

~Intruder~
CREA,CISSP,CEH,CEPT,MCSE,MCSA,GWAS,GCWN