Hi,

I have Samba running on linux, VisionFS on SCO with linux and win clients. Pure TCP/IP network.

In network neighbourhood the shares of my servers, print servers and nearly half of my clients disappear for no apparent reason. These shares can still be accessed by mapping the share to a drive on the client or through the find computer function.

There has been no changes to my network. This problem occurs periodically. Restarting Samba and/or VisionFS does not alleviate the problem.

Any thoughts

Gavin.

It almost sounds like another computer on your network is trying to be the preferred (or domain) master and your server is losing a brower list election to a machine with a server/client with a hiher 'os level'.

Check 'domain master' 'os level' preferred master' options in smb.conf. Name resolve order might also be an issue.

you can also reach the shares in explorer by typing

\\server\share



It also sounds to me like a local master problem. use smbclient -L machine to see who has a browse list.

I had this problem a couple of week ago.I solved this all by my-self.
(1) Set all the win98 machines master browser as "disable".Go to Network Neighbothood > properties > Configuration.Under this tab see for file sharing for microsoft.click properties and set the master browser to disable.
(2) Set one win98 as a master browser.If you have NT machines inside you network,always NT wins the competition for master browser.
(3) Set linux machine as a master browser.(smb.conf)
It will work.

HI all,

Thankyou for the replies.

smbclient -L host :- was usefull, but told me what I already know, My Linux server is the Master Browser. My Unix server is not.

I have been to every M$ computer and turned off master browsing.

I setup Ethereal (I have very, very limited knowledge) and there are now no computers trying to be the Local Master.

My nmb.log file has always and still stipulates that the server is both the Domain Master Browser and Local Master

Extract from nmb.log

[2001/12/11 12:21:13, 0] nmbd/nmbd.c:sig_term(65)
Got SIGTERM: going down...
[2001/12/11 12:21:13, 1] nmbd/nmbd.c:main(757)
Netbios nameserver version 2.0.7 started.
Copyright Andrew Tridgell 1994-1998
[2001/12/11 12:21:13, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:become_domain_master_browser_bcast(293)
become_domain_master_browser_bcast:
Attempting to become domain master browser on workgroup ****** on subnet 192.168.100.3
[2001/12/11 12:21:13, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:become_domain_master_browser_bcast(307)
become_domain_master_browser_bcast: querying subnet 192.168.100.3 for domain master browser on workgroup *****
[2001/12/11 12:21:21, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:become_domain_master_stage2(117)
*****

Samba server DATA FILES is now a domain master browser for workgroup ******* on subnet 192.168.100.3

*****
[2001/12/11 12:21:36, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:become_local_master_stage2(405)
*****

Samba name server DATA FILES is now a local master browser for workgroup ****** on subnet 192.168.100.3

*****

I have FULL network function, however network neighbourhood still returns the error "UNABLE TO BROWSE THE NETWORK"
:smash:

To the best of my knowledge, no changes have been made to the network and samba was running faultlessly for over a year.

It may be time for an o/s upgrade starting from scratch. Any further comments are more than welcome

Gavin.