Master Browser Problem

[crazyswede]

For some reason we now have a workgroup problem in the office. No computers show up in the workgroup list and there seems to have an effect on network performance.

There does not seem to be a master browser anymore. I have used 'NBTSTAT' to try to see if one of the computers on the network is the master browser but I have not had any success. I have also turned off the ability of most of the computers to become master browsers. If I isolate a small group of computers then the designated computer becomes the master browser. It is then reconnected to the rest of the network and the computers that are on can then also see the network. However when the rest of the computers get turned on in the morning the master browser disappears. I have not had the chance of turning each one on in turn to find the computer that is causing the problem, however the option of master browser in these computers have been turned off in the registry.

Does anyone know what could be causing the problems?

 

[PistolPete]

Master brower election win normally follow a hieracy, unless they are all the same....
ie, Windows 2003 server would win over an Xp machine for example.

I'd install Wireshark on one of the machine and just watch the traffic for a short while, looking out for the browser elections and see if that shows anything.

 

[crazyswede]

I again forced the machine I wanted to be master on Friday and it is still the master now on Monday. I will have to keep an eye on it. I hate it when things resolves themselves without knowing why.

Thank you very much for suggesting Wireshark. I have installed it and it seems to be a very usefull program. I understand the master browser information but I have have to learn what all the things being reported means

 

[crazyswede]

Still having problems with the master browser!

Using wireshark I can see that the computers that are allowed to become master browsers are sending out 'Browser Election Request' , but they are not becoming master browsers... what could be blocking them? The destination info in wireshark is saying destination is 192.168.0.255 (which does not excist but is the last address in available addresses), is this normal?

Could switches be causing problems?

When a computer sends out a host anouncment, is that just something computer do ever so often to tell a master browser that it is there or has a master browser requested the info?

The ' Get backup list' by computers is sent out because they can't see the master browser?

There has been some 'Master browser requests' from computers that I have told them that they are not allowed to maintain server list?