Best site for Windows 2000 networking? AND Why is my server invisible with using TCP/IP only for file sharing?

[Eug]

What is the best tutorial site for Windows 2000 networking? A while back I set up my system for NetBEUI just because it's only 2-3 computers and it's supposedly safer, and because I couldn't properly set it up for TCP/IP at the time.

Now I'm probably going to buy a Dell MP3 receiver which I think uses TCP/IP to communicate with the server (via either HomePNA or Ethernet). Before I rip out my hair because I forgot one minor thing in the setup, is there a site that has a good Windows 2000 networking tutorial? I'm sick of deciphering Windows 98 tutorials.

 

[Basse]

Here is a nice one.

/B

 

[bex0rs]

Did you mean this site?

http://www.windows2000faq.com


~bex0rs

 

[AKA]

http://searchwin2000.techtarget.com/

heh.. all my other ones are dead.

Your problem with tcp/ip might of been because netbios wasnt enabled in the tcp/ip properties of win2000. Without it they can still ping other computers.. but couldnt see them in network neighborhood.

 

[Basse]

Naturally, bex0rs, naturally.

/b

 

[Eug]

<< Your problem with tcp/ip might of been because netbios wasnt enabled in the tcp/ip properties of win2000. Without it they can still ping other computers.. but couldnt see them in network neighborhood. >>

Must I have NetBios installed? On my server right now all I have is TCP/IP installed for the server's Client for Microsoft Networks and File/Printer Sharing. With that my laptop cannot see it. (The laptop has both TCP/IP and NetBEUI bound to the Client for MS Networks and File/Printer Sharing.) As soon as I bind NetBEUI on the Desktop, everything is fine.

What gives? I know NetBEUI broadcasts everything and is simpler, but I want to make TCP/IP work without it since I suspect a new piece of hardware I may be getting won't support NetBEUI.

I don't want to add NetBIOS if I don't need to.

 

[Eug]

WOWN seems to be a good site, although I can't find a specific answer to my specific problem:

ie. With TCP/IP installed as the only protocol, my computers cannot see each other over the network in Network Neighbourhood, but I can ping them.

Maybe I'll check out this BrowseMaster stuff, but I dunno if that's a Win98 thing only.

 

[AKA]

Eug,

That would be one way. But what I actually meant was inside the tcp/ip properties is an option to enable netbios over tcp/ip. Make sure that is enabled. And completely reboot network.. rebooting isnt suppose to be necessary (and im sure it isnt), but in my case I had to.

 

[Eug]

Happy Valentine's Day.

Yes AKA, I understood, but I thought NetBIOS was supposed to be completely optional. I don't want to install it if I don't have to. I don't think NetBIOS would help me with my new MP3 receiver hardware anyway.

 

[spidey07]

EUG, you should be able to run only TCP/IP as your networking protocol. By enabling Netbios over TCP you are simply encapsulating SMB and Netbios commands within a TCP/IP frame.

Microsoft networking &quot;browse list&quot; is a pain in the neck. Maybe these tips will help:

Make sure you computer names are less than 14 chacters and contain alphanumeric characters only.
Make sure ip addresses are on the same subnet.
Make sure your computers don't sleep. In a very small network you don't want the masterbrowser &quot;sleeping&quot;
The 2000 box will automatically become the masterbrowser because of windows version.

 

[AKA]

Well I wont pretend to know how it all works. All I know is that when I enabled it.. I could then see the computers in the browser. Which confused me as to why. So I thought it was a fluke. So I disabled it and then couldnt see them again. Enabled it, could. Did that a couple more times just to be sure.

My network is completely Tcp/ip only.. but on the Win2000 side I have netbios enabled within tcp/ip. Im only going by experience not knowledge.

 

[Eug]

OK thanks, I will try your suggestions. My Dell MP3 Receiver should be coming soon too.

Just FYI:

1) With TCP/IP, I can ping them fine, but I just can't see them in &quot;My Network&quot;. Weird.
2) That's what I figured with NetBios. I will try to avoid it.
3) My Desktop is 192.168.1.2. My laptop is 192.168.1.xxx. Maybe I'll try a static IP for the laptop.
4) Both computers are &quot;Workgroup&quot; and the names are &quot;EugDesktop&quot; and &quot;Laptop&quot;. Note that the laptop is communicating through a HomePNA bridge through the phone lines, but the same problem occurs with the laptop directly hooked up to the router (192.168.1.1).
5) The desktop does not sleep.
6) The laptop and the desktop are both running Windows 2000. The laptop has the newer build, which came with it. Hmmm...
7) The MP3 Receiver has proprietary software so maybe these points become superfluous. However, it still irks me that I can't figure this supposedly simple thing out.

 

[AKA]

Eug,

You gave what looks like everything you have done.

Do you have file and printer sharing installed?
Do you see a &quot;computers near me&quot; icon in network places?
If you do, what does it say when you click on it?

Ack! typed above too soon.
According to this article on microsoft knowledge base you have to have netbios enabled.

Did you ever try this? Or did you just add netbeui? I didnt understand your previous post as to which you did.

 

[AKA]

Ack! my post about netbios was stated as if it HAD to be enabled. But after reading article again it states:



<< This behavior can occur when no computer in the workgroup is designated as the master browser, or when NetBIOS over TCP/IP is not being used. >>



So it looks like its one or the other. Not both.
So either enable or get one designated as master browser. Figures, article doesnt state how to designate a master browser.

More on that if I find it....

 

[AKA]

Here is what I found on browser's in Win2000. Only did a quick scan, didnt see anything on forcing a master browser. Only thing I could tell is that maybe you need to wait longer for it to show.

Article Q188001

Article Q188305

Article Q102878

Good Luck

 

[Eug]

OK, without NetBeui I could only could get this thing to work with TCP/IP if I installed the &quot;NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol&quot; and enabled NetBIOS, etc. But as far as I'm concerned, that defeats the purpose of using TCP/IP.

I'll have to read more about this WINS and master browser business. I'm back on NetBeui at the moment. Right now I'm running empty WINS addresses, because quite frankly I don't understand quite how to configure it.

If I had to do this for a living, I would just die.

 

[AKA]

Okay, found out some more information.

Info on browsing

Set prefered master browser

More on browsing