PCs disappearing from Network Neighbourhood

[ribby]

Hi, maybe someone could help me with this?

I have a Windows 98 PC set up as follows:
TCP/IP
File and Print sharing For MS Networks
Netware Client 3.3 (Primary Logon)
Client for Microsoft Networks

This PC resides on a Netware network. It is schedule to run a batch job
periodically, which maps a drive to Windows 2000 server, copies some files
and deletes the mapped drive.

However, PCs in N/N disappear and thus the batch file does not run, a
network error 53 is returned. Although it is still possible to ping the 2000
server and other pcs.

I figured this may be a master browser problem, so I made an entry in the
LMHOSTS of:
10.0.0.16 controller1 #pre #DOM:domainname
10.0.0.16 "domainname \0x1d" #pre

10.0.0.16 is the BDC, which has been configured as Master browser rather
than the PDC due to network setup. The BDC is also the Primary Wins Server.

I'm all out of ideas, maybe I've got something hideously wrong.

Anyone help please?

Cheers, Steve.

 

[ReddLefty]

With Novell, you must not use the following letters to map a drive:

F:, Y: or Z:. They are all needed by Novell for various reasons.

Also, the only other problem I've ever encountered, is that my mapped drive would suddenly become a fixed drive... and could no longer be unmapped (except by rebooting)... so I had to modify the batch file to check if the currently mapped drive was the correct one by checking to see if a specific file existed on the drive. If it did, then the batch file continued.. if it didn't, it aborted thinking it was not the proper drive that was mapped.




"In space, nobody can hear you click..."

 

[Ribster]

None of these drives is being used, in fact the batch job no longer maps the drive, as the location now has a permanent mapping - the batch job just copies the files.

Cheers, Steve.

 

[Ribster]

Anyone else?

 

[ReddLefty]

Oh, I thought you had corrected the problem.. hehe.

Can you confirm with the Browser Monitor that your Master Browser is indeed your BDC? The tool comes with in the W2K Resource Kit.

There is a FAQ on the master browser issues you can flip threw, it may give you some ideas: faq96-3728

Also, make sure your primary DNS and WINS in your Win98 is the BDC (Win2K).






"In space, nobody can hear you click..."

 

[Ribster]

Just to clarify, the BDC is an NT box, not W2k. The 98 pc does have the BDC listed as its primary WINS server. DNS is not installed on the network.
Have confirmed that BDC is indeed master browser, w2k machine is backup browser.

Cheers, Steve.

 

[ReddLefty]

You got me. If your LMHOSTS is ok and your only loosing name resolution, there is only so many places I can think of that you seem to have already checked: LMHOSTS, HOSTS, WINS, Master Browser and DNS (which you don't have). That pretty much covers all the LAN probabilities. It may be the Novell server having issues, but I haven't touched it since v3.11 ... hehe.




"In space, nobody can hear you click..."

 

[ribby]

Ok mate, cheers anyway. I also uninstalled the Network card, reinstalled along with protocols and services. I've also deleted that PCs records from the WINS database and rebooted it. Maybe that will help.

Thanks for your time.

Steve.