Gurus how do Windows computers browse network for new computers

shockwaveriderz · 26 Jun 2019

I've read that netbios is slowly but surely going away with newer protocols.

In relation to post-MS Windows 2000 / NT, client-server based networks, NetBIOS is effectively becoming a legacy protocol. NetBIOS was also developed for non-routable LANs. In most post year 2000 networks operating Windows 2000 or later, NetBIOS effectively offers backwards compatibility for network devices that predate compatibility with DNS. A central role of NetBIOS in Client-Server networks (and also those networks that have networked peripheral hardware that also predates DNS compatibility) is to provide name resolution to computers and networked peripherals. Further, it allows for such networked hardware to be accessed and shared and also enables the mapping and browsing of network folders, shares and shared printers, faxes, etc. In its primary capacity, it acts as a session-layer protocol transported over TCP/IP to provide name resolution to a computer and shared folders. To that end, Windows 2000-based, Client-Server networks - and later - do not require this insecure means of name resolving and addressing or navigating of network share

jimbo45 · 26 Jun 2019

hsehestedt said:

Apparently, LLTD (Link Layer Topology Discovery) is what is now used but I'm having a hard time finding anything other than pure specifications. Will post if I find anything useful.

If details of the specs are of any interest to you, here is where you can find that info:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ope...b-cf7c7869666d

Hi folks

@hsehestedt

I think you can understand where I'm coming from --it's not as simple with Windows -- as I said anybody can understand how it works in Linux (and it usually does straight out of the box) on Linux systems --after all UNIX was built + it's derivatives such as Linux as a multi user system with networking as a core service- whereas Windows was originally designed as a single user Home system with networking only added as an after thought --the original Windows networking was designed from Windows 3.11 with a DOS Lan

If you guys want to have fun with Windows 3/3.11 in a Virtual machine have a go with this

Install & Configure MS-DOS 6.22 & Windows 3.1 using Oracle VirtualBox – Socket 3

Probably some of you weren't even born when this was the best sort of network we could come up with -- and Hayes dial up phone modems at an unbelievable rate of 1200 Baud in those days-- things like 1 GB/s Internet weren't even being written about in Science Fiction !!!!!!

some of us even had to use things like this :

Gurus how do Windows computers browse network for new computers-ac.png

To any Millenials on these boards

Technolgy today is so much better now --but apart from cheap property prices back in "the old Days" where modern day millenials are hoplessly hosed up in expensive rentals etc I think you probably would have missed the excitement of this sort of really old Dinosaur Technolgy by todays standards that we had fun in doing.

I think we did actually improve the lifestyle of billions around the planet and also having the excitement of being able to set this stuff up on a shoe string in your old Dad's garage and not having to bother with corporate Hedge funds or big banks -- we might not have made much money but did we have fun --absolutely YES !!!!! - and some diid make money --e.g Bill gates etc.

I do love modern technolgy -- but not so impressed by the difficulty people can have today attempting to do "Garage Start ups" and the fact that slick suited Hedge fund people get in the way of individuals wanting to have a go -- so here's me almost at the end of a working career hoping that with all the modern problems some millenials can make it with decent innovations not dependent on Wall st corporate laweys and Cayman Island Hedge fund operators. !!!

Have fun !!!

Cheers
jimbo

lx07 · 26 Jun 2019

jimbo45 said:

I think you can understand where I'm coming from --it's not as simple with Windows-- as I said anybody can understand how it works in Linux (and it usually does straight out of the box) on Linux systems --after all UNIX was built + it's derivatives such as Linux as a multi user system with networking as a core service- whereas Windows was originally designed as a single user Home system with networking only added as an after thought

I don't understand your point at all.

If you follow the earlier links given in this thread samba set up rules specifically to follow (and work around) existing MS networking.

Configure Network Browsing - Samba.org

Are you saying samba follow MS workgroup standards better than MS do? Workgroups was a MS thing in the first place after all.

Browser service - Wikipedia

hsehestedt · 26 Jun 2019

It used to be fairly simple, but now I can't seem to find any good, clear, concise documentation.

BTW, love the MODEM. Reminds me of my first MODEM which was a 300 baud. That in turn reminds me of a story I will share. This is 100% true...

I was a newbie doing Tech Support at Microsoft. Had just started listening in on calls with someone who was showing me the ropes. Customer calls in says he was trying to download a file from the Microsoft BBS but after many repeated attempts he was unable to connect successfully. He lived in Texas but figured he might get a better connection if he was closer to the Redmond Washington area so <he drove to Washington> to get a better connection. After that did not work, he called us. Turned out he had wrong settings on his MODEM.

Man, I miss those days. The stories I could tell you

. Like the guy who bought the Windows for Workgroups kit which included ISA network adapters and he couldn't get an adapter to fit in a Microchannel slot, so he physically took a hacksaw to his case to try to make it fit and then got upset with Microsoft for not putting on the box "Does not work with Microchannel."

jimbo45 · 26 Jun 2019

lx07 said:

I don't understand your point at all.

If you follow the earlier links given in this thread samba set up rules specifically to follow (and work around) existing MS networking.

Network Browsing - Samba.org

Are you saying samba follow MS workgroup standards better than MS do? Workgroups was a MS thing in the first place after all.

Browser service - Wikipedia

Hi there

@lx07
You've got my point backwards I think

I have absoltutly no problem in understanding SAMBA connections.

What I was saying how does all this stuff work in a W INDOWS ONLY network -- no Samba issues there at all.

Cheers
jimbo

lx07 · 26 Jun 2019

hsehestedt said:

Reminds me of my first MODEM which was a 300 baud.

Getting pictures was like knitting them on a loom...

EdTittel · 26 Jun 2019

@jimbo45: sorry to be late getting back onto this bus. As others have explained, as computers come and go from the network, the status of the master browser is subject to election. You can make Registry settings (as I do, myself) to influence that election's outcome but it does happen dynamically, in response to network activity and changes. There's usually no need to worry about this, because MS has built a reasonably robust and reliable framework to make sure a master browser is always present and functioning on Workgroup networks.
HTH,
--Ed--

lx07 · 26 Jun 2019

EdTittel said:

the status of the master browser is subject to election. You can make Registry settings (as I do, myself) to influence that election's outcome but it does happen dynamically, in response to network activity and changes.

Indeed and samba follows the same rules

If you want Samba to win elections, set the os level global option in smb.conf to a higher number. It defaults to 20. Using 34 would make it win all elections over every other system (except other Samba systems).

jimbo45 · 26 Jun 2019

Hi everybody

Thanks for all the replies

I'm never (or is anybody else) too old to learn new things

Thanks again everyone

Cheers

jimbo

hsehestedt · 26 Jun 2019

The thing about this business is that there IS SO MUCH to learn and things are constantly evolving. There is zero percent chance of ever getting bored.