Help me solve a Domain Browsing issue

June 3, 2006 10:45 AM

I am on a VLAN and cannot browse the domain. I can connect to servers e.g. //server1/ and see the dives etc. If I am on the same VLAN as the server - I can browse and see everything. Is there perhaps a broadcast or something that the Cisco router is not allowing through? Tried ip forward-protocol udp netbios-ns Any ideas? Thanks
posted by bright77blue to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Need some more information, how about you throw us some source and destination information ?

IP addresses, network topology, etc.
posted by iamabot at 11:01 AM on June 3, 2006

Hi

Sure. Server on vlan 140 and range 172.17.140.0
IF client on vlan 140 can browse and see domain and server.
Everything works 100%

But

If client on vlan 130 on address range 172.17.130.0 cannot browse. Client gets IP from server and DHCP works. Client (XP) can ping server by name (DNS working). If I do a //servername/ from the start, run, I can even see the folders and printers. Printing to a printed attached to the server works. It is only when I try browsing the domain that it shows only the machines connected to the same VLAN.


Topology - VLANS on router ports - Cisco 1800 series.

Hope this helps
posted by bright77blue at 12:47 PM on June 3, 2006

It really sounds like a domain membership problem more than it is a problem with the network. That you can connect to the servers/etc indicates that the connectivity is there, the same protocols are in use for browsing the domain as they are for connecting to servers hosting services in the domain.

I'll see if I can dig anything up, I have a similar configuration deployed at a site and there are no problems doing what you describe across multiple vlans.
posted by iamabot at 1:05 PM on June 3, 2006

Thank you. When I put the same client on the "Server Vlan" it works 100%.

I looked at DHCP - all the Netbios settings, and the DNS settings too. Strange!
posted by bright77blue at 3:02 PM on June 3, 2006

Isn't browsing dependent on broadcast requests/announcements? In your example, if the netmask on your vlan is 255.255.255.0, then your "Show me the servers!" broadcasts originating from 172.17.130.x will never be seen on 172.17.140.0. You'll need to change the netmasks to something more suitable (like 255.255.0.0), or enable broadcast bridging between the subnets.
posted by Pinback at 4:05 PM on June 3, 2006

What's the WINS node type that the DHCP server is handing out?
posted by kableh at 12:06 PM on June 5, 2006