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johanfo

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The browser service has failed ...

I get the following message in the Eventlog
EventID: 8032
"The browser service has failed to retrieve the backup list too many times on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{4384750B-616E-4FBD-9E6F-D23105D619AB}. The backup browser is stopping."

This happens on 2 Windows 2003 servers which are members of a Windows 2000 domain.  Is this something to ignore or somthing to fix?
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sirbounty
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Are you running dual-NICs in these servers?
Perhaps this PAQ will help: http:Q_20553276.html

Also:
>>CAUSE
The following situations can cause this symptom:
Your computer network cards are linked to the same subnet.
Your computer network cards are not linked directly to the same subnet, but are linked indirectly through other subnets that they are connected to.
The master browser is using an incorrect subnet mask.
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, do one of the following:
Unbind all but one of the TCP/IP subnet transport bindings from the workstation service.

-or-
Remove all but one of the network cards or RAS connections.

-or-
At the command prompt type the following command:
net stop browser
Note This option prevents you from receiving computer browse lists from other networks.
After you perform these steps, wait at least 10 minutes to see if the errors still occur. If they do, continue troubleshooting by cross- referencing 2 pieces of information. First, check the transport that failed in the event log. For example, error 8021 displays a message similar to the following:
The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser master \\<server_name> on the network \Device\NetBT_<driver_name>. The data is the error code. The important data is NetBT_<driver_name>, which indicates the protocol and netcard binding, also known as an "endpoint." The potential protocols you may see are:
Nbf_netcard = NetBEUI
NetBT_netcard = TCP/IP (or NetBIOS over TCP/IP)
NwlnkIpx = IPX/SPX (NwLink) [will not indicate netcard]
NwlnkNB = NetBIOS over NwLink [will not indicate netcard]
After you have determined the failed protocol endpoint, check the working status of the Browser service on all installed protocols with the Windows NT resource kit program Browstat.exe. At a command prompt, type the following command:
browstat status
This will enumerate the browser status on all endpoints. Look for the message Browser is NOT active on domain under each endpoint. Disregard data about endpoints that list "NdisWanX" (such as Device\NetBT_NdisWan5); these are RAS endpoints and will usually list the error anyway.

You should find a protocol match between these two steps. The next step is to record any important information about the protocol from Protocol Setup in the Network tool in Control Panel. Then, remove the protocol, restart the computer, and see if the error no longer gets logged (remember to wait at least 10 minutes). Then, try reinstalling the protocol, checking for the error, and reapplying the service pack that exists on the current Windows NT installation.

If the error persists after a protocol reinstallation, you may have problems with the network adapter card. Check with the vendor to see if there is an updated driver, or try another network adapter card.
<<ref: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=135404
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johanfo

ASKER

All servers have one NIC.  They are all on the same LAN, that is, no routers in between.
Also adding on to what bounty said you can also check the registry for


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\
Name: MaintainServerList
Type: REG_SZ
you can set this to no... so there will be no conflicts of your servers trying to be the browser master..
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ASKER

>To work around this problem, do one of the following:
>Unbind all but one of the TCP/IP subnet transport bindings from the workstation service.

How do you "unbind" in windows 2000?
How to Bind or Unbind a Network Protocol or Service
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections.
Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
In the Connect using box, click the network adapter for which you want to bind or unbind the protocol or service.
In the Components checked are used by this connection box, select the check box for the protocol or service that you want to bind, or clear the check box for the protocol or service that you want to unbind.
Click OK.
Restart the computer.

How to Remove a Network Protocol or Service from the Bind List
In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click the protocol or service that you want to remove in the Components checked are used by this connection box, and then click Uninstall.
Click Yes to confirm that you want to remove the component.
When you are finished making changes, restart the computer.

ref: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314604
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sirbounty
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