asked on 3/26/2013

Network Discovery

Last month we replaced our old 2003 domain controllers with 2008 domain controllers. The process went smoothly.
Preped domain for 2008,
DCPromo'd new DC's
Moved FSMO Roles and time server.
Demoted old DC's
And ran clean DCDAIG's during and after procedure.

Now everything is working fine except when you view the network, only LAN computers show up.
Previously, all domain computers were shown when you browse the network.

We have several remote offices connected by VPN's.

Those remote computers all log in normally, and are available from the LAN via \\computername.... but no longer show up when you browse the network.

All computers are windows 7

Microsoft Server OS Windows Networking Network Management

Last Comment

Rob Williams

4/25/2013

Rob Williams

3/26/2013

Browsing the network relies on NetBIOS, and NetBIOS is not a routable protocol so it does not traverse routers or VPN's. There are a few routers that have a feature to forward NetBIOS traffic over VPN's but not many.
Thus, you need WINS. WINS was enabled by default with 2003 but is not with 2008 or newer. You need a WINS server at each site.

DrPing

3/26/2013

ASKER

The original 2003 server at the main LAN may have had WINS turned on. I will add WINS to the new server and see.

It worked before with a server at only the main location (not a server at each office), so maybe it will now.

I presumed that the computers being registered in DNS would have been sufficient to see them listed when you browse the domain, but obviously that was wrong.

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Rob Williams

3/26/2013

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DrPing

4/21/2013

ASKER

Sorry it took some time to schedule a reboot of the server.

Installed WINS, and updated the DHCP to include the new service.
Has been several days now.... enough time to ensure most of the computers have been rebooted to get the DHCP update.

No change on the network browsing though.

The only change was replacing the 2003 DC with a 2008 DC.
Thought for sure WINS was the answer :>(

DrPing

4/25/2013

ASKER

Well I guess this will remain a mystery.

Thanks RonWill for the information, and the effort. And since you're the only one who responded... you get all the Jelly Beans!

DrPing

4/25/2013

ASKER

I give you an A for effort.

Rob Williams

4/25/2013

Thanks DrPing.

Did all remote clients get the WINS server added to their NIC configurations? Really for WINS to work you need a WINS server at each site with replication between each.