Network With More Then 1 Workgroup

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:23 am

Hey,

quick question. I am just starting a new job and I am going to be using my school laptop at work. I am doing some SQL Server classes and Cisco classes so I can't really miss with my network setting. The new office network has... well lets say A for its workground name and I have Z. I am on the network fine, this would be how I am writing this. but I can not see the other workground and the computers/printer in it. can I do anything about this?

Thanks

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:33 am

The big confusion regarding workgroups is that you can't see computers unless you're in the same workgroup. That is not correct. Workgroups are simply an old way of organizing large networks into smaller chunks...in a visually organized way. Nothing else...just a way of breaking up a few hundred computers in network neighborhood, into several larger groups. You can still always just drill in and out of workgroups in network neighborhood.

However....in peer to peer networks, where there is now server running WINS and/or DNS....the browsing can take some time. In peer to peer networks, some computers wrestle for the roll of "Master Browser", and it can take some time for name resolution to occur.

When you're on a domain with DNS and/or WINS...they are the top dogs on the network handling name resolution on the network, so things go quicker.

Without knowing the details of your two network setups, I'll wager that given some time, you'll browse the other network quick enough. If your'e in a hurry, just do a "Find/Search" for the computers.

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:00 pm

ok,

I tyred the Search with no luck. so I guess I will go with a little more info. all computers are running Windows XP SP2 (the devil!) the printer is a HP 3in1, the router is a D-Link DI-707P. The IP and DNS are obtain automatically. I would have no real clue what the network set up for my Rez and college are, but I do know it is on the same IP and DNS Obtain automatically settings.

don't think you would need any more info and thanks for the Workground info before!

striker8000 · Post by **striker8000** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:24 pm

try going into network neighborhood and hitting the up arrow (I have two workgroups on my home network (Home and Jeff, not really creative), and this is how I switch between them, from your workgroup -> up arrow to view the entire network -> then into whichever workgroup I'm looking for)

note- if you are using Windows XP you'll need to click the "view workgroup computers" to get to the starting point of this description i.e.

my network places -> view workgroup computers -> up -> a

hope this helps,

Jeff

striker8000 · Post by **striker8000** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:25 pm

and mine was p2p for a long time

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:40 am

BigAmp wrote:all computers are running Windows XP SP2 (the devil!)

Is the software firewall enabled? Why do you consider XPsp2 the devil? I love XP.

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:42 pm

Just SP2 is the Devil. so many people in my program at school have had problems because of that.most have ether just uninstalled it, or done a system restore to before they installed it. one of my friends could not even have his computer reboot after installing it, it was just freez when it got to loading windows. I had to update just about ever one of my programs. plus I had to reinstall SQL Server 2000. it made it thinkI had changed my computer name, SQL could not hadle that and my Master db was new good. hell I still can not play any videos, all codec are blocked from running, even the windows mediaplayer one!

well I am so off topic here. the firewall is not turned on, on my computer. as for the other two I will have a look this week. but I do not know if that would be it. I know I can see my friends laptop in my classes at school and he is not in the same workgroup as I am. but that is something to go on for now.

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:45 am

ok I am getting a little pissed off here. I can not see any other computers on any network! I have reset the file/printer sharing. the fire wall is turned off. I have my PC and laptop together via a linksys hub and nothing. they are in the same workground, both with file sharing I still have the link to my drop folder on this laptop and it dose not work any more. no changes beside SP2 have been made. whats going on here... really now.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 11:14 am

Just for laughs, the new office network details.

What OS for a server?
How is TCP handled on the network, DHCP?
What protocols are the default for the office network?
Can you ping the IP any of the servers and get a reply?
Can you ping the NetBIOS name of any of the servers and get a reply?

Start==>Run==CMD==>"IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS" without the quotes

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 11:55 am

What OS for a server? no server on the networks, just workstations.
How is TCP handled on the network, DHCP? DHCP is enabled.
What protocols are the default for the office network? no clue.
Can you ping the IP any of the servers and get a reply? I can ping each computer and default gatewasy but nothing else.
Can you ping the NetBIOS name of any of the servers and get a reply? netBIOS is disabled.

one other thing, when I say I can not see any computers or other work groups, I mean I can not even see the computer I am on. I can see other computers fine with my PC (windows 2000SP4).

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:49 pm

BigAmp wrote: Can you ping the NetBIOS name of any of the servers and get a reply? netBIOS is disabled.

Your TCP properties, Advanced button, WINS tab....what is checked?

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:25 am

ok here is the setting from there. no WINS addresses, enable LMHOSTS lookup and disabled netBIOS over TCP/IP.

Well I am in class now so I have now tryed the laptop on all three networks I use it on and I can not see anything on the network but my own workgroup but I can not see my own laptop or anythings else.

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:04 pm

after doing a little work today and trying to get my laptop to connect with my friends via a cross-over cable. I think I found the answer, the Visual Studio .NET (for my ASP.NET class) has my computer setup as a server.

so dase any one know anything about this???

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:54 pm

Hey all,

Finaly fix it. SP2 had disabled NetBIOS over TCP/IP. I had a look over my System log in Event Viewer from the Admin tools. I found an error with the MRxSub source, so that pointed me to the NetBIOS not being active.

I all so finaly found the problem with my codec not working. SP2 had reset one of the setting under the Video Acceleration. under the Use Video Mixing Renderer it has checked the Use Overlays, so I changed that back to the Use High Quality Mode.

so now finaly!!!! my computer is working right.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:08 am

BigAmp wrote:ok here is the setting from there. no WINS addresses, enable LMHOSTS lookup and disabled netBIOS over TCP/IP.

Yup, there ya go.

BigAmp · Post by **BigAmp** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:49 pm

yep was getting so pissed off at the problem I could not see what one hand was doing from the other! lol.

I would feel realy bad but no one else pick up on that untill I had it fix.