Aspence

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.

2xgrump

Hello Aspence and welcome to TSF!

Please provide DNS config from SBS 08, Win03 server and (1) client computer. You shd use an internel DNS pref your SBS DNS. Also, check Event Viewer errors from your SBS server and post it here if possible.

RD

Aspence

What Output are you exactly looking for [Command prompt outputs ]?. pardon the question I am relatively new to this forum

Thanks

2xgrump

No problem....just need you to provide me the DNS IP that you are using for your servers and a client computer. You may do this command if you want...ipconfig /all and post results here.

Aspence

Here is the output you requested. Thanks for your help

Server A


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : A
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : structstone.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : structstone.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom BCM5708C NetXtreme II GigE (NDIS VBD Client) #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-19-8A-6E-DA
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a150:87cc:a69:8560%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.192(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.191
192.168.1.192
192.168.1.251
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom BCM5708C NetXtreme II GigE (NDIS VBD Client)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-19-8A-6E-D8
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::8fa8:62e2:6acf:f205%10(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d033:b001:3cdf:b30%10(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.191(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::8fa8:62e2:6acf:f205%10
192.168.1.191
192.168.1.192
192.168.1.251
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 8:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{DD8BEF4F-9FAF-44F9-9FFF-BE92BF1B47D4}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{A7032A85-A6ED-4C74-9317-6CDE1BF443F4}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
================================================================================================

Server B

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : B
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : structstone.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : structstone.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-B3-D2-28-D3
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.250
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.251
192.168.1.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-9F-24-52-F0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.251
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.251

================================================================================================

Client


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Client
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : structstone.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : structstone.com
structstone.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : structstone.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1B-FC-63-BC-EC
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.34
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.191
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.191
Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.191
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, October 18, 2009 3:11:02 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 26, 2009 3:11:02 AM

2xgrump

Hi Aspence,

thank you for the info, it's very helpful. I see some DNS misconfig here.
I've noticed that your Server B is using these DNS's => DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.251
192.168.1.1 (this is your gateway)

Isn't it your SBS2008 is acting as your DNS, so they shd be using your SBS2008 DNS's which is 192.168.1.191

suggestion: In your server B pls change to DNS's 192.168.1.191 (Primary)
You do not need to put any sec. DNS at this point.

See if this helps and update me pls.

Aspence

Din't work. I am still getting the following as Browstat status out on Client
'

Status for domain STRUCTSTONE on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{D3B94ED8-DF6C-47
71-968A-8368C3DF8A48}
Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master browser name is held by: B
Master browser is running build 3790

2xgrump

Try this then....do you know your ISP's DNS's (external DNS)?

Primary use your Internal 192.168.1.191
Sec. put your ISP's it's not going to be a 192.168.1.

In your SBS 2008 DNS config, change the forwarders pointing to your ISP's DNS (external IP). Note: before making any changes, take snap shots of your original config. this is extremely impt.

In your 2 servers before you make any changes, do a quick snap shot of TCP/IP config, change the secondary to your ISP's external DNS.

Hope this works.

Aspence

Did not get a chance to mess with the DNS config. But playing around with the computer browsers on the two servers I finally manged to get the following browstat output

Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: A
Master browser is running build 6001
1 backup servers retrieved from master A
\\A
Unable to retrieve server list from A: 71

i checkd Server A registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\MaintainServerList
The value is Yes ..

Does this give u some more insight ?

Thanks

2xgrump

from any of your client computers, are they able to browse the network or access any network resouces?

Aspence

Well yes and No .........mapped drives work or \\A\<shared folder> works.
but Entire network >> Windows Network ><DOMAIN NAME> does not work i get the error mentioned in the opening thread

2xgrump

So at least we have an improvement, correct? Now you'll have to go to your DNS config and do I what I have recommended you to do. Again, be extra careful, take snap shots before changing anything.

Aspence

yea... Just wanna be sure as to what you are hinting at by changing the secondary DNS to ISP DNS.

2xgrump

Instead of using your Internal DNS IP, you shd have an external DNS thru your provider. If you do not know, call your provider and ask for your DNS Forwarders (these will be your external DNS). Don't you have a hardware firewall, you shd see these info in your hardware firewall or maybe router?

Aspence

yea ...Sorry about the delay.. I have the external DNS IPs with me. I was trying to figure out what you were aiming to achieve by changing the DNS forwarders with regards to Network browsing...

Aspence

Sorry i am about to ask some real dumb questions here. i understand that the network browsing issue has been going on for a long time now even before Server A was in place.

I want to know exactly how to do i add the ISP provided DNS as secondary DNS. The information provided under teh Forward Lookup Zones threw me off.

Do i need to create a new zone

2xgrump

It's okay, not a dumb question at all. I shd have been a little more detail.
Pls. try this resolution for right now and see if it helps, if not you'll have to give me a little bit more info regarding your DNS config in your server.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188305

Aspence

Got some Good n Bad News.... Did not get a chance to mess with the DNS config. However I came across HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ Netbt\Parameters and created a key EnableProxy with Dword value 1 on client that i was using till now.

I could browse the network and things looked good on Client 1

I logged in to Client 2 (no registry changes this time) and I could browse the network as well through My Network Places.

I used Client 3 & 4 to check and it did not work out. Coming back to Client 2, I got the same message as Client 3, 4 as follows

"No more connections can be made to this remote computer since it already has as many connections as it can make."

Client 1 is working perfectly OK.

PS: I have been remoting into these workstations all throughout the thread

2xgrump

Well, I think that you're doin' really well this entire thread bec. you're making progress and putting a lot of effort to resolve the issue. Did you get a chance to take a look at the link that I gave you? Also, I need you to check your SBS Event Viewer for any errors and attach them here if it's possible.
I would check Client 1's config and Services that are running and compare to the other computers.

Aspence

Its working.. Nothing changed between last thread and this. But i checkd with a couple of folks down there and it seems workign alright. The only difference I am remotign in from my office and yest eve i was at home on a different computer.

I shall post back when i figure why it did not work from home.

For now.. having WINS proxy enabled on one of the computers nailed it.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ Netbt\Parameters and created a key EnableProxy with Dword value 1

Thanks ..