NetBIOS Browse List May Not Contain all Domains in a Windows 2000 Environment (280374)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
This article was previously published under Q280374

SYMPTOMS

When two or more Microsoft Windows 2000 domains cross multiple subnets, a NetBIOS browse list may be absent one of the domains.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if each domain is contained in its own subnet. When a Domain Master Browser starts, it makes the remote procedure call (RPC) transfer the "r_WinsGetDbRecsByName" call to its assigned Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) server to pull all <1B> records in the WINS database. These records represent the other Domain Master Browsers which enables the Domain Master Browser to discover all other domains in the enterprise.

Windows 2000 WINS servers return all, but one, of the <1B> records when they respond to this call; in turn, the Domain Master Browser for each domain returns a list of all domains except for the one that is not returned in the query.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, you can add one member of the absent domain to each subnet. This addition can create a Segment Master Browser for that domain and the Segment Master Browser can broadcast DomainAnnouncement datagrams. These datagrams can be used to inform the other Domain Master Browsers about the missing domain.

Another workaround is to create a static master browser for a domain named "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" that allows you browse all domains on a Windows 2000 WINS server.

To do this, use notepad to create a Lmhosts file by using the following steps:
  1. <IP Address> "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ\0x1b" #PRE

    NOTE: There are exactly 15 characters in the name specified earlier. Also, by using characters "Z", you make sure the character is always listed at the bottom of the domain name list, which is arranged in alphabetical order.
  2. The IP address can be any made up address not already used on your network.
  3. Add several blank lines to the end of the file to make sure the file is imported properly.
  4. Save the file.
  5. In the WINS management console, import that file.
A static entry for a master browser for a domain named "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" may now be the last 1b entry in the database.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about NetBIOS browsing in Windows 2000, see Appendix 1 of the TCP/IP Core Networking Guide in the Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/26/2006
Keywords:kbBrowse kbbug kbpending KB280374
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