Workgroup computers

[LordEric02]

I've got a couple computers that aren't seeing each other in the workgroup. They are both part of the same workgroup and Computer Browser is started and set to automatic. I'm restarted a number of times and I still get the same error when clicking on View Workgroup Computers. It says, "(Name of Workgroup) is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource....The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."

I've read some things in the past about how computers in a workgroup decide who is going to hold the computer list but I don't remember much from it, let alone how to go about resetting this list. Can anyone help?

Also, both PC's are running Win XP Pro SP2. Thanks.

[Puter Padowan]

Do any of the systems in question have firewalls enabled? If so, try disabling them to see if that changes anything. Let us know if you solved the issue or what's going on. Always nice to know how an issue was resolved =)

Good luck.

[LordEric02]

I will definitely let you know if I figure this one out. And to answer your question, no, the firewalls are not enabled. Our temporary summer help had disabled a bunch of services that they deemed "unnecessary" so I went back in and restarted what I knew needed to be running, but perhaps there is one that needs to be running besides Computer Browser that I am unaware of.

[Puter Padowan]

How is your network setup?

[Erik]

You could actually try disabeling Computer Browser. Worjgroups are horrible with Master Browser wars.

[Variable]

Check that the server service is started and running. Right click your LAN and click properties, make sure File and Print sharing has a check box. It doesn't sound like a master browser issue. It sounds like a service is not running or a firewall is blocking the connection. Windows error messages are not always helpful in finding an issue.

[LordEric02]

Let me try and answer all of these questions.

First of all, we are running a Novell network. On the windows side of things, all of the computers are organized into workgroups, no domains.

Second of all, disabling Computer Browser is what typically causes me to not see workgroup computers, this advice seems counter-productive.

And third, the server service is set to automatic and is started. Also, File and Print sharing is enabled and there are no firewalls on for any of these computers.

[Erik]

Yeah, and you failed to mention one major key here, it is a Novell network.

[Variable]

Yea thats a big piece of the information pie to leave out :p

I wonder if there is anything shared on the machines? Each machine is it's own local security database in a workgroup. When you try to access another machine your username and password are sent that you logged in with. Make sure the same user and password is on both machines and that user has permission to view the shared folders.

[LordEric02]

Sorry about leaving out Novell. I see it everyday so I forget that not everyone knows that's what I'm working with :)

As for the sharing and permissions...all of the computers have the same local (Windows) username and password. When users log in to the computer they never even see the windows login screen, it goes straight from Novell to the desktop via autologin. This windows user account is an administrator account so they have full permissions.

Even if it was a permission problem, wouldn't the computers at least be listed in the Workgroup? Right now the workgroup isn't even accessible.

[Erik]

Did you ever check on the firewalls? Disable Windows firewall and see if that helped?

[LordEric02]

and there are no firewalls on for any of these computers.

Yes I checked the firewalls and no they are not on. None of the computers on my network have windows or any other firewall enabled.

[juniper]

The Browser Service does the registration of SMB (NetBIOS) names
NetBIOS Name Service (NBNS) maps NetBIOS names to IP addresses
Then the server service which does the file and print sharing


What version Novell? Pure IP network running SLP or pure IPX network or MIX? what protocols are loaded on the NIC? what are the netbios settings set for? netbios orver TCP/IP or what?

[LordEric02]

All of those services are running, although I couldn't find a NBNS service. The closest I saw was TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper.

As for Novell, I'm not sure that it matters, since I have about twenty different workgroups and a few hundred other computers that can see each other just fine. They are all running the same client, 4.91. I'm not sure about the IP/IPX. Is there a good way to find out? What protocols are you talking about on the NIC? I believe the NetBIOS is NWLink NetBIOS.

[LordEric02]

Well I'm not sure what happened exactly, but I ran the network setup wizard on one of the computers, just for kicks, and now I can see all of the computers in the workgroup. So I guess that situation is resolved, but I just don't understand why.

[juniper]

I asked the version because IP is the default in version 5.1 and up (5 started pure IP support) and I wanted to know what Netbios was running over IP or IPX. so basically if you said version 4.2 I would have known to troubleshoot netbios over IPX opposed to IP. And you dont need a novell client if you are running CIFS on the novell server with "native file access" so it would be a standard netbios over TCP/IP. So yes the version of Netware would give me an idea of how Netbios should be running in your environment. But sounds like you got it.

[juniper]

Oh in the NWLINK properties there should be a checkbox that binds or unbinds NETBIOS from NWLINK he prolly unchecked it.