Computer Browser/Network Neighbourhood 1

[Grenage]

A month or so ago we replaced our network switches for a nice nib HP one, and replaced the Main Server's (it's also the DHCP) NIC with an Intel dual port card it increase speed.

Now on our network we have this Main Server (DHCP) and a WINS server along with various others, the DHCP server is pointing to the WINS server in it's scope as per normal.

Unfortunately while 75% of the time workstations can get a full computer list in Network Neighbourhood, the other 15% if the time there is nothing there (possibly 1 or 2 other machines). Has anybidy ever seen this before, I'm stumped and Event Viewer offers no answers.

The Servers here are NT4 and the workstations are Win9x, I can access a machine directly by using \\mainservername but no listings however.

 

[SgtB]

When its the 15% of the time, are ALL machines effected? I mean does NN vanish for everyone? or is it random when a machine loses NN?

Question is, if you put the old switches back does the problem vanish. What about the dual nic on the DHCP server? if you put the old one back in does the problem go away?

I honestly can't think of why a dual nic on the dhcp server would be an issue.....bad ports on a switch might be an issue too.

Very strange problem though. ________________________________________
Check out

http://www.security-forums.com

 

[Grenage]

Indeed

I've checked the ports and everything else works fine over the network (its fantastic aside from this issue). Name resolution is fine over the WINS server. Using BROWMON it always shows up the WINS server with a full machine listing and as the Secondary Browser. The Primary Browser (the problem Server) shows up with no listings and "??" where the computer count is when there is nothing in Network Neighbourhood. While this is wrong in itself I would have assumed the Machines would have just got their List from the Secondary browser but they clearly aren't.

There isn't really anything to configure on browser so its most annoying.

 

[SgtB]

The problem server is the one with the new dual nic right? You should try to put the old nic back in on the weekend. Just to possibly narrow down the problem. Again I can't imagine why this would effect the server in this way, but I've seen some strange things.

Here's another stab in the dark. Reinstalling the browser service on the problem server. I've never done it so I'm not sure if there are any major side effects to doing this, but like I said....its just my best guess on this.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. ________________________________________
Check out

http://www.security-forums.com

 

[Grenage]

I know what you mean, it is very strange. Thankyou for your input I appreciate it