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Can't See the Entire Network

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by cst

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I work for a non-profit charity organization that has only a peer-to-peer network. At first, their 17-20 workstations, all Win 95/98, were using just Netbeui, later added TCP/IP when a local cable company/ISP provided and configured their internet connection. This ISP apparently distributes IP addresses to these workstations, which is evident when running winipcfg. The host name displays as computername.cinci.rr.com. For a very long time under this configuration, all PCs could see all the other workstations in this small network.

We later received a grant and purchased 16 additional workstations, all XP Prof. Since then, we have recently been hearing from our 95/98 users that some of their workstations can only see part of the network when browsing Network Neighborhood. It seems to come and go, but is troublesome, where the users can't connect to printers or other workstations. One time a w/s can see 10 other workstations, another time, only 2 or 3. We changed out the NICs,checked network config for duplicate computer names, checked connections at the hub, changed out the LAN cable, moved the workstations to other LAN drops -- still no progress.

There were no changes made to the network configuration on these 95/98units, other than the removal of Netbeui from all of them (we took off Netbeui since we felt the network already had TCP/IP and didn't need a mixed protocol environment). Do we need Netbeui back??? And we're wondering if the XP machines, which of course see the entire network just fine, are preventing the older w/s from browsing properly.

Not sure where to troubleshoot this one, it seems to be just happening at random. Kind of running out of ideas, could anyone help?

Thanks in advance!

18 replies

by ann777

Peer-to-peer is "unreliable" in a PTP environment with more than 10 workstations as a whole. 17-20 workstations originally worked? WOW!

You need "server" software (WinNT Server, Win2000 Server or WinXP Server). Short of purchasing server andCAL (client access licenses) for all the computers, the only other recommendation I could suggest is re-installing MS NetBEUI on all the computers.

TCP/IP is for browsing the external world (WAN), but without a server, nothing but MS NetBEUI would be broadcasting and browsing the internal LAN.

by radiic

Sorta sounds like a master browser issue. When you had netbeui running that is what it does, keeps track of computer names for mac resolution. But netbeui is useless in a network of over 5 computers, so removing it was the right thing to do. I would try from the w9x clients, trying to connect to other computers with the unc, even if they dont show up in network neighborhood. This will prove that your network connection is fine. It sound to me like it is time to get DC on the network running DHCP and WINS. Along with that the server will maintain the master Browser list and everyone should be able to see everyone.

Sounds like when you introduced the XP boxes into the net, that they by default are trying to maintain the browser service and that it dont play well with 9x.

Hope that helps
Rad

by cst

p.s. Some of the 95/98 workstations that have had Netbeui removed still can see all the network, it's only a few units having the trouble.

by cst

Good answers so far, thanks...sure gives a little better insight to the problem. We'd like to go server/client, but funding is a problem for server software and client licenses.

We tried last night taking all the XPs down, and guess what!! The 95/98 machines lost their little problem. Go figure. Well this isn't really a solution, but it certainly gives credence to the master browser theory.

by volovoy

I agree with the answer - sounds like master browsing problem. First. Leave the option File and print sharing only on the computers with connected printers, disable it on the rest of computers. Now, check if everybody who has printer shutdown computer correctly, so no Scandisk on login. Make right click on Network Neighborhood icon, click on Properties, click on File and print sharing, highlight Browse Master. You have 3 options.Don't choose Automatic. Choose Enable, if this person shutdown computer properly every time. Choose Disable, if you are not sure about it. Second, ask everybody restart their computers at the same time. You can see all computer in the network after this. If this doesn't solve your problem, try to keep Enable option only on W9x computers or XP only.

Good luck

by shanghai sam

There is another trick you can do on the 95/98 computers is to have IPX/SPX compatable protocol loaded. It will not interfer with the XP computers but opens up network neighborhood to be able to see everything. I have done this for peer to peer networks before. The other thing that I do is update the win95 machines with the msdun13.exe it takes away some of the Sensitivity of TCP/IP. For the WIn98 machines update with dun14-98.exe. Even though these updates are for dial up services they update TCP/IP in the process. Last of all even if you can not see your peers in network neighborhood you should be able to ping them and map drives to their shares with TCP/IP only protocol. The network browser likes chattie protocols more though.

by redhatquik

On all the XP machines go in to "Network Places" then the "Lan Properties" then the "authentication tab" UNCHECK the "Enable Access control using IEEE 802.1x" this will clear it up but don't tell Uncle Billy I told you

by neelkant

hi,
well u r not the only one to face this problem. the fact is that xp and 9x dont go along very well. my solution may be harsh but u should replace ur xp with 9x os.

by wlbowers

Netbeui is a chatty protocall. It doesn't wait for a poll it constantly says here I am. Get Rid of it.

Dump netbeui and go total tcp/ip. Put a router such as a Linksys BESFR series between the internet and the lan. It will work as a dhcp server for you and only require one tcp/ip address from the cable company. It will service 253 computers on that one tcp/ip. It will also serve as a firewall.

Make sure the software firewall in xp is off. And the share is set correctly.

Of course userand passwords need to be set on all machines.

Good Luck Lee

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