Name resolution LAN

[bobm_10]

Hi:
We are downsizing our office network from AD to a workgroup setting with a NAS for storage. We have 10 users using windows 8 and 7. The migration to the NAS went smooth with computers being removed from the domain and connected to NAS. Question, when I shut the domain servers down will I have any trouble with name resolution on the LAN or will the machines still be able to find the NAS by name if they are all in the same workgroup?
Thanks Bob

 

[Dreamslacker]

They should be able to do local name discovery and resolution.
Do also check if you have any WINS servers configured on the clients and remove them if necessary.

 

[azazel1024]

Yup.

So long as NETBIOS and/or LLDP are enabled on all of the machines (they are by default) then they should have no issues resolving the NAS by name.

 

[bobm_10]

Ok thanks I will look up LLDP, some general questions

1) My understanding is one of the machines on the LAN will become the master browser and resolve the name to IP? Is that correct?

2) Is there 1 Master browser per subnet or is it one master browser per workgroup?

3) Not that I need too, but is it possible to run DHCP or DNS, services on a Windows 8.1 box or would that require Windows Server 2012, perhaps foundation or Essentials?

 

[azazel1024]

That only applies to NETBIOS. LLDP, from what I remember of it, does not use a master browser scheme. It works mildly like UPnP (without all the host of vulnerabilities) in tha all machines on LLDP announce their services on the LAN periodically.

In regards to NETBIOS, for 1, yes, one machine will be elected/elect itself to master browser and announce services on the local network.

It is one machine per workgroup AFAIK.

Never tried running a DNS or DHCP server on 8.1. https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2693643/en-us Maybe for built in?

There are sever applications for DHCP and DNS that you can find easily. So, yes, you can run one. I am just not sure if the hooks are there to do it natively in 8.1, or you need server 2012 for it.

 

[htismaqe]

There is 1 master browser per workgroup, however any machines that have computer browser enabled can maintain a server list. There is an election process that happens and the machine that wins becomes the master browser while the other machines become standby.

Almost all consumer NAS devices support master browser participation. I would strongly recommend enabling it and disabling master browser on all of your workstations, you'll see far less instability that way.

 

[bobm_10]

I will look, I am using a ReadyNAS. Any idea how to tell what machine is the current master browser with Windows 8?

So if you have 2 workgroups on the same sub net you will a master browser for each?


Thanks Bob

 

[htismaqe]

I will look, I am using a ReadyNAS. Any idea how to tell what machine is the current master browser with Windows 8?

I believe the net view command still works in Windows 8.

If you type "net view" at the command prompt it will show you the master browsers for all workgroups. If you want to look at an individual workgroup, type "net view /domain:" followed by the name of the workgroup.

So if you have 2 workgroups on the same sub net you will a master browser for each?

Yep.

 

[bobm_10]

If you type "net view" at the command prompt it will show you the master browsers for all workgroups. If you want to look at an individual workgroup, type "net view /domain:" followed by the name of the workgroup.

Net view still works but it lists all the machines in the workgroup. One of them, (which happens to be the NAS) has it's name repeated under the remark column. Perhaps that indicates the master browser?

Bob

 

[htismaqe]

I don't have any Windows 8 machines, but the "remarks" field generally contains the machine description as configured in the workgroup advanced settings. It's not an indicator of status at all, as far as I know.

If all machines are showing up in net view, that means they all have the capability to be a master browser. To be 100% sure and stable, I generally disable browsing on all workstations (by disabling the Computer Browser service and editing 2 keys in the registry), preventing them from ever trying to become master browsers.

The absolutely surest way to determine your master browser is to use the "nbtstat" command.

Type "nbstat -a" followed by the machine name of the workstation your want to query. You can also use "nbtstat -A" to use the IP address instead.

The master browser will have multiple entries, one of which should contain "msbrowse" in the name of the entry. Non-master browsers won't have that entry.

 

[bobm_10]

"nbstat -a" followed by the machine name worked! Too bad MS does not have a utility that can simply identify this for you.

As an experiment I turned over NetBIOS over TCP-IP and Net View went dark as expected and I could not find machines by name. Interestingly, the windows 8 machines continued to show up in File Explore. Bob

 

[htismaqe]

"nbstat -a" followed by the machine name worked! Too bad MS does not have a utility that can simply identify this for you.

There used to be a utility back in the XP days called "browstat" that could do it but I don't believe it is supported on 7/8.