Re: Network Computers

[Matt Drew <mdrew redhat com>]

On Wed, 4 Apr 2001, Brock Noland wrote:

>
> Well Ping uses TCP/IP and Network Neighborhood (windows
> sharing) doesn't. You need to configure samba or something. Also the
> Windoze box must also have NetBeui (i think) and because MS stuff sucks
> sometimes it doesn't work 100%.

NetBIOS is what you're thinking of, which can run across TCP/IP, IPX, and
NetBeui.  NetBIOS is the Windows browsing protocol, and SMB is the
file and print sharing protocol.  Samba covers both of these protocols and
allows a Linux machine to show up in Network Neighborhood and have SMB
shares available.

NetBIOS often appears to behave strangely because under Windows, it is
largely automatic.  There are many conditions that can cause NetBIOS to
either appear not to work (it takes time for the browse master to be
elected and the browse list to be assembled, can be up to fifteen minutes)
or to really not work - improperly configured broadcast configurations,
registry options that remove the machine from the browse list, not turning
on file sharing in Win9x, problems with the 9x internet sharing, a
firewall that blocks the ports, etc.  In my experience, it is generally
reliable if you give it time to sort itself out.  Be careful about going
across network boundaries (10 --> 100 for example) -- switched connections
will usually work and pass the NetBIOS traffic, while bridged connections
generally will not.  This can sometimes occur inside of a 10/100 hub, so
be aware of that.

LMHOSTS is a file that relates to NetBIOS names and IP addresses only.
It is the local "equivalent" of a WINS server.  The HOSTS file is
analogous to the HOSTS file in Unix.  If a machine is named in the HOSTS
file, you should be able to ping it by name from the machine that contains
the HOSTS file.  If you cannot, something is wrong with your HOSTS file.

If you put a Linux machine in an LMHOSTS file on a Windows machine, you
should be able to ping it by name, but it will not show up in Network
Neighborhood because NetBIOS and SMB are not installed.  Samba is the
package that sets that up for Linux.

Matt

> > I am having trouble trying to figure out why I can ping each computer, but
> > can not view the computers under Network Neighborhood. All entries in the
> > LMHOSTS and HOSTS file are correct. I can ping using the IP address of each
> > and ping using the alias. Any suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks, Alvin

-- 
Matt Drew
Peer Review team lead and Bughunter
Red Hat Consumer Services