On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 19:57:04 -0800, "Slice" <Slice@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>
>
>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 16:57:01 -0800, "Slice" <Slice@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Also is there any way to make my x64 box the preferred master browser?
>> >
>> >That way I could run the computer browser service on all the computers so if
>> >my x64 box goes down browsing services will still function when the x64 box
>> >is down but they will always default to using the x64 box as the master
>> >browser when it is present or when it comes back on-line.
>> >
>> >Slice
>> >
>> >Whould this do what i am discribing?
>> >http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kba...erBrowser.html
>>
>> Read my article, and my explanation above.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...lways-see.html
>>
>> --
>> Cheers,
>> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
>> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
>> My email is AT DOT
>> actual address pchuck mvps org.
>>
>
>What you propose on your web site doesn’t really give any one clear answer.
>The way I interpret what was said on your website with regards to a workgroup
>environment is that you should only have 2 computers running the computer
>browser service so that you have a master browser and a backup browser,
>therefore providing redundancy in the even that one of the 2 computers
>running the computer browser service goes down. However as I under stand it,
>you admit on your website that this type of configuration isn’t always full
>proof with regards to maintaining a workgroup environment with only one
>master browser when computers are being turned on and off. I want something
>that is full proof. That is why I referenced the link in my last post and
>asked if that would force a master browser election and grant the computer
>with it enabled master browser status, regardless of weather other computers
>in the workgroup are running the computer browser service and acting as the
>master browser or not. From what I can gather, this registry entry would
>control who will actually be the master browser in the even of an election,
>and would even force an election that the computer with the entry would
>automatically win when it detects that it is not currently the master browser
>for the workgroup. If this is so then I could enable this registry key on my
>x64 box so that it will always be the master browser when it is connected to
>the network(aka when it has network connectivity and is turned on). Does this
>registry key do what I am describing or am I mistaken?
>
>Slice

Slice,

You're getting the picture. A master browser election is a peer-peer process.
Without a universal authority (in a domain, the domain controller), you'll not
have a fool proof process. That's one reason why using Network Neighborhood on
a wireless LAN will be unreliable - with servers (wireless computers) moving in
and out of range (joining and unjoining from the workgroup) - you'll be
constantly getting either browser conflicts or no browser.

From
<http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsNT/RegistryTips/Network/PreferredMasterBrowser.html>
If no other condition prevents it, the preferred master browser will always win
the election.

You can designate a preferred master browser, if you wish. And as long as that
one computer stays online you'll be OK. If it drops offline, and another
browser elects itself the new master browser, you'll have a segmented workgroup,
with 2 master browsers.

Or, you can make just one computer a browser. And, as long as that one computer
stays on and online WRT the other computers, you'll be OK. If that one computer
drops offline for any reason, the other computers will have no browsing
services. That's why Microsoft recommends at least 2 browsers for the first 32
computers in a LAN segment, and an additional browser for each additional 32.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.