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Troubleshoot: Part2, XP File & Printer Sharing, Computer missing? Chk Browser Service
[CENTER]TROUBLESHOOT: Part2, XP File and Printer Sharing
Computers Not Found? Diagnose Computer Browser Service[/center]
File and Printer Sharing between Windows computers requires you properly select and configure a “mix-and-match” set of Windows components and options. For brevity, this guide refers to File and Printer Sharing as F&PS
Network visibility and access errors are indicative of underlying problems in F&PS
1. Overview
NOTE: ”Browser” in this context has nothing to do with Internet Explorer
=> 2a Multiple Masters
There should only be one master browser
=> 2b Time between change & effect
By design, a change in Windows Network can take up to 45 minutes to be seen by all
Use browstat to troubleshoot browser services on your net: locate and confirm only one master, view and compare all browse lists, “announce” missing computers
[CENTER]TROUBLESHOOT: Part2, XP File and Printer Sharing
Computers Not Found? Diagnose Computer Browser Service[/center]
File and Printer Sharing between Windows computers requires you properly select and configure a “mix-and-match” set of Windows components and options. For brevity, this guide refers to File and Printer Sharing as F&PS
Network visibility and access errors are indicative of underlying problems in F&PS
Visibility. You can’t find all Windows Network devices under My Network Places
Access. Access/privilege errors occur when you open a workstation or workgroup you should have access to
This guide helps find and fix most causes behind Visibility and Access errors. The settings suggested are fairly generic and support most users. Once errors are fixed, you can further modify these settings as meet your needsAccess. Access/privilege errors occur when you open a workstation or workgroup you should have access to
The system details / instructions herein are specific to XP Pro and XP Home running SP2 or SP3. For other versions, you can still gain an understanding of “things to look for” but can’t use these instructions to fix other versions
This guide is divided into 3 parts
Part 1, “Troubleshoot: XP File and Printer Sharing, Computers not found? Check your basic configurationhttps://www.techspot.com/vb/topic106417.html” focuses on common problems and F&PS configuration issues which cause visibility errors.- Part 2, (this document) focuses on Computer Browser Service and how it may cause visibility errors. The guide explains
The Computer Browser service and its role in a peer-to-peer Windows network- How the service might cause network visibility problems
- Tools and methods to find, fix and prevent Browser problems
- Part3, Troubleshoot: XP File and Printer Sharing, Fixing access privileges” helps fix access errors between machines. This document not yet published
1. Overview
NOTE: ”Browser” in this context has nothing to do with Internet Explorer
Microsoft Windows Network is a networking protocol used between Windows based computers. It allows them to communicate with each other, share resources (files and printers) and function in a Windows architecture
Computer Browser Service must be enabled and running on at least one computer per workgroup. (Rule of thumb: Run it on each wired LAN computer.) Browsers are dynamically assigned roles including:
2. Issues of DesignComputer Browser Service must be enabled and running on at least one computer per workgroup. (Rule of thumb: Run it on each wired LAN computer.) Browsers are dynamically assigned roles including:
Master. Browsers jointly "elect" one of themselves as Master. The Master “browses” the network to both maintain and distribute a browse list. The browse list contains info on computers and resources in the workgroup. This list is shared with others in the group- Backup. Backup browsers keep copies of the browse list and stand ready to elect a new master if the current one fails
=> 2a Multiple Masters
There should only be one master browser
However, a brief network interruption can force an election and a new master. When the old master reconnects some recovery scenarios may result in 2 masters. This then causes visibility problems. Use browstat to
– Confirm all computers report the same master
– View browser properties of each computer. Only one should be master
To avoid problem scenarios
If the problem still occurs, reduce number of backup browsers by disabling the service on some computers– Confirm all computers report the same master
– View browser properties of each computer. Only one should be master
To avoid problem scenarios
- Only run browser service on LAN (not wireless) computers
- Choose one reliable computer as “preferred master”. Modify registry keys under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\ to influence elections. Possible key values are shown. Set bold value for preferred master
MaintainServerList
Yes – Always a master or backup
Auto – Windows chooses browser roles
No – Never a browser
IsDomainMaster
True – Preferred master
False – No preference
=> 2b Time between change & effect
By design, a change in Windows Network can take up to 45 minutes to be seen by all
A workstation announces itself when started and is reannounced at up to every 12 minutes. If initial broadcasts are lost in net traffic, it may take up to 12 minutes for all the net to recognize a new workstation or group. Worse yet, and by design, workstation or group removal can take up to 45 minutes before it’s known to all
To avoid this delay while testing
3. BrowstatTo avoid this delay while testing
- Restart master browser
.– Find master’s host computer. Open command prompt. Enter Services.msc
.– Right click Computer Browser ->Restart, or - Shutdown all then restart each machine
Use browstat to troubleshoot browser services on your net: locate and confirm only one master, view and compare all browse lists, “announce” missing computers
Install
Some Commands
– Run browstat from command prompt (Start ->Run, type cmd, hit OK)
– Some of the output lines below are numbered for clarity
– For brevity, TEST refers to the computer you’re using to test
– Dumpnet
Returns transports monitored by Browser. Transport is a physical network card bound to a protocol
– Status
Display Master status. Also try it using “status –v”
Get browse list from master (default) or from \\host where host is a computer name
– Forceannounce
Request all workstations announce themselves within 30 seconds
- Create directory C:\browstat
- Download and unzip browstat into directory
- Update PATH variable
- Right click My Computer ->Properties ->Advanced ->Environment Variables
- Select PATH from user variables and append ”;C:\browstat” to the end (without the quotes “”)
- Click OK, close boxes
Some Commands
– Run browstat from command prompt (Start ->Run, type cmd, hit OK)
– Some of the output lines below are numbered for clarity
– For brevity, TEST refers to the computer you’re using to test
– Dumpnet
Returns transports monitored by Browser. Transport is a physical network card bound to a protocol
> browstat dumpnet
L1..1 \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03-418F-8EDE-273D3D63175F}
L1: NetBT_Tcpip_ indicates “NetBIOS over TCP/IP” protocol
.=> If you see other protocols, understand why
.=> Disable LAN connection and re-run to verify device is in fact for the LAN
.=> The digit preceding each transport will be used in other commands to indicate the transport
L1..1 \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03-418F-8EDE-273D3D63175F}
L1: NetBT_Tcpip_ indicates “NetBIOS over TCP/IP” protocol
.=> If you see other protocols, understand why
.=> Disable LAN connection and re-run to verify device is in fact for the LAN
.=> The digit preceding each transport will be used in other commands to indicate the transport
– Status
Display Master status. Also try it using “status –v”
> browstat status
L1 Status for domain MYGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03418F8EDE-273D3D63175F}
L2….Browsing is active on domain
L3….Master browser name is: XP-PRO2
L4……..Master browser is running build 2600
L5….1 backup servers retrieved from master XP-PRO2
L6………\\XP-PRO2
L7….There are 1 servers in domain MYGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03-418F-8EDE273D3D63175F}
L8….There are 1 domains in MYGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03-418F-8EDE273D3D63175F}
L1 Status for domain MYGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03418F8EDE-273D3D63175F}
L2….Browsing is active on domain
L3….Master browser name is: XP-PRO2
L4……..Master browser is running build 2600
L5….1 backup servers retrieved from master XP-PRO2
L6………\\XP-PRO2
L7….There are 1 servers in domain MYGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03-418F-8EDE273D3D63175F}
L8….There are 1 domains in MYGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AA68C027-7C03-418F-8EDE273D3D63175F}
[*]L1: For browstat, domains and workgroups are same
[*]L3: Computer’s name running the master. Same name s/b reported by all computers. Else see #2a
[*]L4: Indicates s/w build # of master. But, build # is solely debug info. Errors getting build # don’t always mean a problem with Browser services
Error 5 can be issue of connectivity or access rights between TEST and master. You may defer to Part 3, this guide, which addresses access rights
Error 53 Browstat uses Remote Registry service. You may see error if browstat accesses a master on
– XP Pro not configured to allow remote registry access or on
– XP Home (which has no Remore Registry service)
[*]L7: # of computers in workgroup
[*]L8: # of workgroups seen
If no master exists, either no one is running a master or a firewall is blocking it. You’d see
Browsing is NOT active on domain
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus
– ViewBrowsing is NOT active on domain
Master name cannot be determined from GetAdapterStatus
Get browse list from master (default) or from \\host where host is a computer name
> browstat view 1 \\XPHOME
Remoting NetServerEnum to \\XPHOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{xxx } with flags ffffffff
\\XP-PRO2 NT 05.01 (W,S,PQ,NT,PBR,MBR)
\\XPHOME NT 05.01 (W,S,NT,PBR,BBR)
W-workstation, S-server, PQ-print server, PBR-potential browser, MBR- master browser, BBR- backup browser
Remoting NetServerEnum to \\XPHOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{xxx } with flags ffffffff
\\XP-PRO2 NT 05.01 (W,S,PQ,NT,PBR,MBR)
\\XPHOME NT 05.01 (W,S,NT,PBR,BBR)
W-workstation, S-server, PQ-print server, PBR-potential browser, MBR- master browser, BBR- backup browser
– Forceannounce
Request all workstations announce themselves within 30 seconds
> browstat forceannounce 1 MYGROUP
