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Computer Browser
The computer browser is to
display a directory of all known computers or domains that the computer can
reach. The purpose of the browser service is to collect and report the existence
of other computers on the network that are sharing file, print, and other
resources from the active browser or master
servers on each of its active endpoints such as each network protocol that is
running on each network card. For example, a computer with
TCP/IP and NetBEUI installed on the network interface cards A and B would have
four endpoints for the computer browser client.
If the browser client is trying to locate a browser server on each endpoint. It
waits until it either one receives valid information or times out on each
endpoint before returning. This process can be slow if there is an endpoint that
does not contain browser servers or the active network card is not
connected to the network. Also Multihomed servers can create unexpected and
undesirable effects with the browser service and a master browser cannot be
multihomed because the PDC will contact only the master browser on one of its
network adapters.
In general,
computer browser performance improves with fewer protocols or network cards on a
computer. All domain controllers must be singlehomed computers for browsing to
operate correctly. Also the computer browser is dependent on NetBIOS. Therefore,
in a mixed OS network environment (win9x, NT, ME, W2K and XP), you should have a
WINS server in a domain network and enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP (instead of
loading NetBEUI) on w2k/xp in the home or small network.
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If you can see or search a remote computer in mixed OS (win98, ME, NT, W2K
and XP) network, this is master browser issue. You may try to use browstat.exe
from NT resource kit to check the master browser status. Or stop computer
browser on w2k/xp.
For consultants, refer to case 100903RL.
Can't see any
or only some computers in My Network Places
Symptoms: you can map the remote computers' shared
folder, but you are experiencing the following issues:
1. Can't see any or some computers in My Network Places.
2. It takes long time to show networking computers in My Network Places.
3. The networking computers show in My Network Places randomly.
Resolutions: this is likely Computer Browser issue.
1. If there is a multi-homed or RAS machine on your network becoming the
browse master for the wrong subnet, disable the Computer Browser service on the
computer.
2. Check any errors in Event Viewer, especially Browser error. If you have peer
to peer workgroup network, you may want to disable Computer Browser services on
w2k/xp.
3. If you can't disable the Computer Browser service because the compute is the
PDC, you can unbind NetBIOS from one interface in network advanced settings.
4. W2K/XP may not show on the My Network Places if it doesn't
use Windows Logon Passwords or has blank password.
For consultants, refer to computer browser issue page. How to check Browser status
To determined the failed protocol_netcard and check the working status of the
Browser service on all installed protocols, you can use a tool comes with the
Windows NT resource kit program Browstat.exe or Browmon.exe (for domain). At a command prompt, type the
following command: browstat status or just browser to see the lists.
SYMPTOMS: 1) Event Viewer System log shows Event id: 8021 and
Description: The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the
browser master <PDC> on the network \device\<protocol_netcard>. 2) Event id:
8032 and Description: The browser service has failed to retrieve the backup
list too many times on transport of <protocol_netcard>.
This symptom occurs because
1) your computer is a multihomed computer or using multiple network cards in
the same subnet; 2) your computer is a master browser; 3) Your computer is
running the TCP/IP protocol.
Resolutions:
find the failed protocol_netcard or use browstat status (from NT
Resource Kit) to find the problem and the card. Then
1) Stop computer browser to
prevents the computer from receiving computer browse lists from other
networks.
2) Remove or disable the card.
3) Unbind it from the
workstation service.
4) Uncheck Client for MS Networks on the card.
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Q:
How can I check my Master Browsers?
The resource kit has a utility BROWSTAT.EXE which allows status of the
browse service to be ascertained. To do this, use command browstat status
<domain> or browstat stats \\<server>. Too many browsers or no
master browser may bring problems
to your network.
How do I know I have a
browser problem
When you open My Network Places, the computer list you see is obtaining
from the master browser of your network. You have a master browser issue if
you have the following symptoms. 1) If you can ping a computer name, you can search it, you can map it,
but that computer doesn't show or take long time to show up on My Network
Places.
2) Net view command shows no lists or shows "System error 6118 has occurred.
The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available".
3) when clicking on Computers Near
Me in My Network Places or workgroup name in Entire Network, the following
error message may appear: "Cannot Access 'Computers Near Me' " or "Workgroup
is not accessible" errors.
4) when click workgroup name under Entire Network Places, you get "Workgroup
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
permission. The list server for this workgroup is not currently
available."
5)
Windows Explorer or
My Network Places
take a long time to open.
6) Event logs on servers show many master browser election messages.
Change master browser in w2k or XP:
Go to Program files, Admin tools, services then in the right panel right click
on computer browser and right click go to properties then from the startup
list select Disabled.
Or
type regedt32, and scroll to this key change value to False
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters
IsDomainMaster=FALSE
Change master browser in 9X:
From network neighborhood properties select File & print sharing, select and
click properties then select "Master Browser" from the right list and
choose disabled from the left list.
How to start/stop
Computer Browser on Win2K/XP
To start/stop Master Browser on Win2K/XP, go to Administrative
Tools>Services, start/stop the Computer Browser. You setup start automatically, select Administrative
tools, Services, and change the Start setting for Computer Browsing to
Automatic. You can then reboot the computer or start the service manually by
clicking on the Start button.
How to disable
servers from becoming browser servers
As we mentioned, all domain controllers must be singlehomed for browsing to
operate correctly. All domain controllers in a domain are by default browser
servers. To disable multihomed Windows NT servers from becoming browser
servers: 1) go to click Administrative Tools>Services>the
Properties of Computer Browser, and then click
Manual. 2) Use Registry Editor
(Regedt32.exe) to edit the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\MaintainServerList
and change the value of this key to false NT and in Win
2000, instead of the value false, use the value, no.
NOTE: The registry settings in this article do not work on a
Windows 2000 DC if it is the PDC emulator.
How to disable the Computer Browser Service on all Windows clients and servers
To disable the Computer Browser Service on all Windows clients and servers,
you may need to create three batch files that will include Netdom.exe, Nnetsvc.exe
and Rreg.exe.
How to enable servers
becoming browser servers
To encourage singlehomed computers to become the browser servers, open
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster
and change the value of this key to yes, quit Registry
Editor, and then restart your computer. NOTE: The registry
settings in this article do not work on a Windows 2000 DC if it is the PDC
emulator.
In a small mixed OS network, you may want disable W2K/XP master browser and keep w9x
or NT master browser
In a small mixed OS workgroup network, you may want to disable W2K/XP master browser
and keep w9x or NT master browser because XP/W2K always win elections over
others, and other previous OS doesn't understand it. To disable master browser on W2K/XP, go to
Administrative Tools>Services, stop the Computer Browser.
Master Browsing issue on
Multihomed DC
You may experience browsing and/or NetBIOS name resolution problems if you
install a DC on multihomed server. This is because each browser service bounds
to each interface operates independently and does not merge the browse list
for separate networks. The master browser is confused.
Resolution:
Try to unbind the WINS Client
(TCP/IP) interface from all your adaptors except for one
Symptoms: you have a workgroup network and most computers are
win9x, NT and ME. After you add XP computer into the network, you can't browse
other computers in workgroup list.
Resolutions:
This is mostly like master browser issue. The simple solution is stopping Computer Browser
service on the XP. To stop Computer Browser service, go to the Computer
Management>Services and Applications>Services.
For consultants, refer to computer browser issue page.
Re-register
NetBIOS name
To re-register NetBIOS name, run nbtstat -RR command.
To troubleshoot browser problem, the important data is NetBT_<driver_name>,
which indicates the protocol and network card binding, also known as an
"endpoint." The potential protocols you may see are: Nbf_netcard = NetBEUI
NetBT_netcard = TCP/IP (or NetBIOS over TCP/IP) NwlnkIpx = IPX/SPX (NwLink)
[will not indicate netcard] NwlnkNB = NetBIOS over NwLink [will not indicate
netcard]. The master browser of a domain is always the primary domain
controller. If it's not, you will get lots troubles.
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