Fixed computer browsing problem, want to be sure I know what I did

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dominick
  • Start date Start date
D

Dominick

Hi all,

I was experiencing a problem I have seen people report a lot, and that
is that computer browsing (for example when you click on the Network
icon) in a Vista-XP network does not show the XP computers. This is NOT
to be confused with the Network mapping interface that came with Vista,
just the good old fashioned computer browse that traditionally is
supported via the Computer Browser service.

I have a network of 10 PCs, with 2 DCs. The way I fixed this was to
turn off computer browser services in all but the 2 DCs and two more
high-powered desktops, disabled it every where else - including
wireless-attached laptops. I then enabled netbios over tcp/ip via the
DHCP setting, and ensured it is working by checking via ipconfig /all.
In one case I had to ensure a Vista machine had file and print sharing
on in the Network Sharing Center (I think that was the Network/Sharing
change that fixed it).

I also found that after doing this, that NET VIEW showed all computers
again.

At first I tried just adding LLTD (Link Layer Topology Discovery) to the
XP Service Pack 3 computers, even though it seems that was not needed.
I think this is needed for the Vista mapping stuff not computer
browsing. Anyway, after adding it, the XP computers still did not show
up in a computer browse. That's when I went to netbios, get the right
computer as master browser, etc.

So here is my question - I would prefer not to have had to turn on
netbios over tcp/ip, and the fact that my Win Server 2008 DCs had
browsing turned off by default says there is another way to accomplish
this. Is there an easier way to get this working without netbios?
Computer browser service is the only netbios app that I know of on the
network. I think I have to do it this way because of XP, but I couldn't
find anything that explained any alternative to computer browser +
netbios. Is there one?

Thanks
 
An LMHost file on each workstation can be used to map workstation names but
is a headache to maintain and doesn't solve the browsing problem. I don't
think there's a real alternative to NetBIOS for full browsing functionality.
With proper firewall protection for the Internet side, I'm not too concerned
about using NetBIOS on the internal LAN. Is security the issue for you?
 
Actually no I am not concerned about security, I was just wondering if
there was a more "accepted" or current way of doing browsing, as NETBIOS
is somewhat old and the only thing that needs it on my network. Thanks
for you reply...!!
 
You're welcome.
--

Dominick said:
Actually no I am not concerned about security, I was just wondering if
there was a more "accepted" or current way of doing browsing, as NETBIOS
is somewhat old and the only thing that needs it on my network. Thanks
for you reply...!!
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