Network Help!!!

[netgeek]

I've got 4 XP systems on my network with a cable modem, router, print
server, etc.

As I often access services on other systems, I have a static IP for each
system and an entry in the hosts files on each system. For reasons I don't
want to go into, the DNS server for my internet connection changes from time
to time forcing me to change the DNS entries on the boxes. I know that if I
configured my systems to get an IP via DHCP, this wouldn't be a problem as
the router would push out the DNS servers automatically. The problem with
DHCP is that Windows will often not be able to see the network neighborhood
correctly (some computer won't show up, etc) even if I can ping all the
boxes.

I understand TCP/IP very well but I don't understand MS's File and Print
Sharing/Network Neighborhood stuff. I imagine that each system broadcasts
its name and IP address to all other systems and 1 system is elected to be
the DNS server in some form or fashion but since this process isn't always
accurate for some unknown reason, I am unable to connect to non-MS services
(such as SMTP servers) using the host name and must look at the routers DHCP
client table.

Is there a more elegant solution? If not, is there a way to force the
network to refresh the network names by having each system re-broadcast its
name and IP? Also, if someone is willing to take the time to explain the
details of MS networking to me or point me to some web resources, I would
appreciate it (I'm not talking about how to set up a MS network but how it
actually works such as master browser election, etc).

Here are details of my network:

Each computer is at SP1 level.

Each computer is not a member of a domain and is part of workgroup
'WORKGROUP'.

Each computer has at least the following services/protocols installed:
TCP/IP, 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0
File and Print Sharing
QoS Packet Scheduler
Client for MS Networks

The connection are not secured (using MS firewall thing)

Zone Alarm or like software is not installed

One system on the network has an installed service (under Connection
Properties) called NetFirewall, this is a buggy AT&T product that I am
forced to use to connect to my corporate network. I have this problem from
time to time regardless of it being active and while it block incoming ICMP
packets, it doesn't block TCP or UDP packets. Disabling it isn't convienient
as it often causes BSOD on 2000 and XP when activating it or disabling it.

[John Prophet]

not sure there is any "master browser".

One thing you COULD check...just for the heck of it...is on each machine the "services" that are running....like "server" and maybe "computer browser" and maybe even "network location awareness" (NLA)

I am sure you know it but you can run "services.msc" to see what services are set to start automatically and which are on manual or disabled....also you can see if they are currently started or not.

At www.blackviper.com he has a guide as to which services you need etc etc and explanation of each http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

I use pretty much the "safe" config he has listed.

ALso, do you have NetBios over tcp/ip enabled?

Are they xp home or Pro?

If Pro, do you have "simple file sharing" enabled?

I am sure there is a way to set the intervel to refresh the browser etc but not sure exactly how.


Are you pretty hip on dos networking commands etc? Can you see each comp there even when they dont show in network neighborhood?

by using "net view" for example.

ALso, cant you just cause a browser refresh by refreshing the net neighborhood window?

JP

[DVNT1]

Most router's forward the DNS requests automatically so I would try putting the workstations DNS server to the LAN IP address of your router. Then you other problems may go away.

[DVNT1]

for your reading pleasure http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=188001 (NT40 based though)

http://www.mail-archive.com/techtarg.../msg00103.html


I dn't really think MS Browsing is such an issue anymore but maybe these articles wil help your understanding some.