Set SBS 2008 as Master browser. Enable Network Browsing

Having an Issue with Network Browsing

The Network has two servers currently on the Domain EXAMPLE

Server A runs active directory, DHCP , DNS, Exchange and pretty much everything that a domain controller runs. (is SBS 2008 SP1)

Server B is a defunct server and has been in place before I came in to look at the network. It has some shared folders and that?s about it. (is Windows Server 2003 SP2)

I am having issue with Client computers not able to browse the network if they go to
Network Places >> Entire Network >> Microsoft Windows Network >> EXAMPLE

Getting the following error
Example is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.

The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently not available

Information Gathered so far

On the SBS 2008 server manager console
1. under Features >> WINS >> Active Registrations I don?t see EXAMPLE Listed as Domain Controller as well as Master Browser
(I say this by looking at a similar deployment that works fine and has the domain name listed as domain controller and master Browser)
EXAMPLE is only listed as Type [00h] Workgroup and IP address point to Server B

2. Coming back on track, Under Active directory Users and Computers, the DC type for server A is GC whereas that for server B is DC

3. When I run a browstat status on the domain I get
Browsing is not active on the Domain
Master Browser is held by: B
Master Browser is running build 3790

4. On Server B registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster has been set to FALSE.

5. For Some reason IsDomainMaster key was not found in Server A registry (dunno if it?s a SBS 2008 thing)

Action items

1. I want to have server A as the master browser

2. Browsing needs to be enabled under browstat status and master browser pointing to server A

Please let me know if more troubleshooting info is required.


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"Aspen CE" wrote in message news:20091015144227sanjai@aspnce.com...
> Having an Issue with Network Browsing
>
> The Network has two servers currently on the Domain EXAMPLE
>
> Server A runs active directory, DHCP , DNS, Exchange and pretty much
> everything that a domain controller runs. (is SBS 2008 SP1)
>
> Server B is a defunct server and has been in place before I came in to
> look at the network. It has some shared folders and that?s about it. (is
> Windows Server 2003 SP2)
>
> I am having issue with Client computers not able to browse the network if
> they go to
> Network Places >> Entire Network >> Microsoft Windows Network >> EXAMPLE
>
> Getting the following error
> Example is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
> network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if
> you have access permissions.
>
> The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently not available
>
> Information Gathered so far
>
> On the SBS 2008 server manager console
> 1. under Features >> WINS >> Active Registrations I don?t see EXAMPLE
> Listed as Domain Controller as well as Master Browser
> (I say this by looking at a similar deployment that works fine and has the
> domain name listed as domain controller and master Browser)
> EXAMPLE is only listed as Type [00h] Workgroup and IP address point to
> Server B
>
> 2. Coming back on track, Under Active directory Users and Computers, the
> DC type for server A is GC whereas that for server B is DC
>
> 3. When I run a browstat status on the domain I get
> Browsing is not active on the Domain
> Master Browser is held by: B
> Master Browser is running build 3790
>
> 4. On Server B registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic
> es\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster has been set to FALSE.
>
> 5. For Some reason IsDomainMaster key was not found in Server A registry
> (dunno if it?s a SBS 2008 thing)
>
> Action items
>
> 1. I want to have server A as the master browser
>
> 2. Browsing needs to be enabled under browstat status and master browser
> pointing to server A
>
> Please let me know if more troubleshooting info is required.
>


1. Is the Computer Browser service set to Automatic and started on the
SBS2008 box? If so, it will automatically become the Master Browser.

In Windows 2008, you can simply start or stop and disable Computer Browser
service if you don't want it to participate or become a Master Browser.
However, since the SBS 2008 server is a domain controller, as well as the
PDC Emulator, it must be enabled because the PDC Emulator will be the master
for the browse list.

2. As long as the DC holding the PDC Emulator role's computer browser
service is started, it automatically becomes the Master Browser. Assuming
that Server "B" is a replica DC in the SBS forest, it will not be the PDC
Emulator, and will relinquish an election request when the PDC Emulator says
so.

Read more...

New Networking Features in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista (Applies to
SBS 2008) - (Scroll down and read the “Computer Browse Service” section and
its mention that the Computer Browser needs to be running on the PDC
Emulator of a domain):
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb726965.aspx

Windows 2008 - Appendix C – Computer Browser Service
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb726989.aspx

Description of the Microsoft Computer Browser Service (search for the word
"election" to understand how the role is passed around depending on the
version of the OS):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188001


Back to WINS...

Are both servers WINS servers? If so, are they setup in a replication
partnership?

For further analysis, we'll require more info. Post an ipconfig /all from
both servers, please. Let's review and evaluate your configuration to see
what's up with WINS.

--
Ace

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Please reply back to the newsgroup or forum for collaboration benefit among
responding engineers, and to help others benefit from your resolution.

Ace Fekay, MCT, MCITP EA, MCTS Windows 2008 & Exchange 2007, MCSE & MCSA
2003/2000, MCSA Messaging 2003
Microsoft Certified Trainer

For urgent issues, please contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please check
http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.