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XeronimoFlag for Luxembourg

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Win servers vanished from Network Neighborhoods!? Because of Mac OS X?

Hi,

I've got a curious phenomenon here: all my servers, which used to be visible in Network Neighborhood, have vanished there! Although they are still accessible using \\servername.

I'm not totally sure but it might be since I've plugged a Mac Snow Leopard server (10.6) into the network? I've tried to disable all non-essential services on it though (we use it as fileserver for the graphics department mostly). I've also added the Mac server to our Windows (2003) domain.

So any help to make my servers visible again would be greatly appreciated ...

Thanks,

Jerome
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Irwin W.
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Is the SMB service enabled on the Mac Server and is it listed as the PDC?
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The SMB service is enabled, yes.

As for the PDC, I'm not sure. I don't think so but where can I check this? I'm not a Mac server guy ...

Thanks!
This is why your WINS network has disappeared.  Your Mac Server has elected itself as the PDC and WINS server on your network.

You don't have to be a Mac server guy ;)  As long as you understand what a PDC is and how Browser elections take place to become the master, you are on your way.

Bottom line, if your Mac server is joined to your AD infrastructure, just disable the SMB service and within about an hour, your network should appear.

You may need to reboot all devices on your network for an election to take place faster.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188001
I understand what a PDC is though I've not really looked into the Browser election process ...

But I can't just turn of SMB? I need some Windows machines to access a shared folder on the Mac server?

Isn't there a way to tell the Mac server NOT to act as a PDC?

Thanks
Regarding your link: our network is a 2003 network, not a 2000. Does that matter?
But what about this:

"But I can't just turn of SMB? I need some Windows machines to access a shared folder on the Mac server?"

How could my Windows machines access the shares on the Snow Leopard server if SMB is turned off?

Isn't there a way to have SMB enable AND Snow Leopard not being a PDC?

Thanks.
The SMB service is not for filesharing but rather a Domain controller for Windows machines that are joining an OD infrastructure.

To configure SMB fileshare access on Mac servers, Go to the Workgroup Manager and click on the share.  There is a tab that allows you configure the type of network access to the shares, AFP, SMB, FTP or NFS.
> To configure SMB fileshare access on Mac servers, Go to the Workgroup Manager and click on the share.  There is a tab that allows you configure the type of network access to the shares, AFP, SMB, FTP or NFS.

You mean in the 'share' section of the 'system preferences'? I can't find such a button in the 'workgroup manager'.

The weird thing though is that I can see the 'screen sharing', 'dvd sharing' etc options in that 'share' section but not 'file share'!? Although I've seen it before there I think. Does this have something to do with me integrating the Snow Leopard server into our Windows domain?

Thanks
Please see my screenshot of where and how to enable SMB connectivity to Apple server shares.

This is different than the SMB service.

Picture-54.png
Thanks for the picture but I'm not seeing this 'sharing' icon on my server!?

It looks like this:



macminiserver.jpg
I had the Snow Leopard server offline now for a day ... the servers weren't visible in the Network Neighborhood for a couple of hours but now (the next day) they're there again!

But I guess they'll disappear again when I switch on the Apple server ...

Hm, any other ideas how to solve this?
Where and how do you create your files shares on your server?  Please state your steps...
I open up Server Admin
I click on 'File Sharing' > browse to the folder I want to share > click on 'share'
Then under 'share point' > 'protocol options' > 'share this item using SMB'

But I can access the server from a Windows PC (via \\servername\share) ... Windows tell me it can't find that server (but I can ping it) ... is that because I've stopped the SMB service?

Sorry for being so confusing ...

As I've said I don't have that 'sharing' icon in Workgroup Manager (probably because I've added the server to the Windows domain?).
I've started the SMB service on the Apple server again now, just as a test. And now I can connect to the server and access the shares! So I need the SMB service after all?

And for now the servers are still visible in the network neighborhood ...
That is right.  Because of the steps you are using the SMB service can be turned off.  Try it.  It is not needed for file sharing.  In the previous versions of the Mac OS this service was named Windows.  It was used like a Domain controller for Windows computer that wanted to praticipate in OD.  You don't need it(I assume)

Are you trying to do this from a Windows or Mac computer?

The main reason is because your Mac server is now listed in DNS.  When you type in \\servername\share, you are using the NETBios name and usually your computer would append your domain name.  Try typing in \\servername.domainname.com\share and see what happens.

Is the Mac server listed in DNS?
I am trying to access the Mac share from a Windows computer. And it seems to ONLY work when the SMB service is running on the Mac server. So it seems I can't stop that service after all??

Yes, the Mac server is listed in the DNS and is present in the AD.

OK but you need to stop the Mac from trying to become the master browser on your network.
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Irwin W.
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Yes. But how do I stop the Mac from trying to become the master browser without disabling the SMB service ... ? That's the big question :)
Ok. Where do I find this smb.conf file? Thanks. I've got to use the terminal I guess?
oops, found it in the /etc folder
Give it a shot and then let me know the results.  I think you will be happy.
Ok, right now it seems to work ...

I still see the servers in the Network Neighborhood and I'm able to access the SMB share on the Apple server!

Let's wait a little bit more to see if it stays that way ;)

But thanks for now!
I guarantee it will stay that way...
How's it working?
It's working alright! Thanks for your help :)