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Master and Backup Brower Conflicts

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5 replies

by wcbattey

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I just brought an NT 4.0 Server BDC online in my firm's single domain LAN. I have one PDC and this new BDC server.
When I look in Event Viewer on the PDC it shows entries (w/ STOP Sign symbol)stating that the BDC has indicated it is a master browser and the PDC has initiated an election.
However, in the BDC's Event Viewer the entries (w/"!" symbol) state that the PDC thinks the BDC "...is the master browser but it is not..."
I changed the PDC Registry to make it the Preferred Master Browser, but this change did not stop the PDC from thinking the BDC is the Master Browser.
Any suggestions?

5 replies

by mgonzales

Actually this is not a problem. When a domain controller comes online, it will force an election on the network you should not see a network performance problem and those will show up each time they are started. They should be event 3033 and 3015.

Hope this helps.

Mike

by nettek

Don't be confused by "Preferred" Master Browser". All NT servers, whether a PDC, BDC, or member server, are preferred master browsers. "Preferred" means that it will win a browser election over an NT Workstation or 9x machine.

By default, the PDCis always the Domain Master Browser. All things being equal, it will always win an election. However, things are not always equal. A Master Browser election occurs under one of the following conditions:
1. Every time an NT server boots and comes up on the network (because it is a preferred master browser, it wants to be the domain master browser).
2. Any time a computer starts and cannot find the Master Browser (busy network, master browser busy and does not respond in time, etc.) it will force an election.
3. Any time an active computer requests an update from the master browser and does not receive a response in time.

Your scenario falls under the first condition. You brought your BDC on line. Because it is a preferred master browser it wants to be the domain master browser, so it forced an election.

It is okay if your BDC is the domain master browser. The next time an election is forced, the PDC will again become the Domain Master Browser if it is not too busy.

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