Servers come up MIA in Network Neighborhood

[candyman200]

I can't pinpoint the timing but at various time during the day I can't "see" all the servers on the domain.
For example - domainDC1, DC2 and an app server are on now ... but missing are office1_DC, office2_DC and office3_DC are MIA. I get this from Dameware and My Network Neighborhood. When missing I can ping by name I get one of 3 to respond. These servers "come-and-go" throughout the day ... at times I'll have 6, then 4, then maybe 5 or 3 - no pattern I can see.

I've tried posting on Win2K Server Forum but no reponses - since this is also recognized in My Network Neighborhood I'm thinking this might be a DNS issue, but I'm not sure.

If there's a log I can start or something, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[GlenJohnson]

When one is missing, can you enter

http://missingserver

and have it show up that way?

Glen A. Johnson
If you're from Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin check out Tek-Tips in Chicago, Illinois Forum.

TTinChicago

http://www.johnsoncomputers.us

 

[candyman200]

I've tested by name and IP - neither come up. Ping fails but tracert shows completed path. Trying ping again still no luck.

Thanks for helping.

 

[candyman200]

MORE INFO

If I \\serverIP\ it's OK but if I \\servername\ it can't be found.

 

[aznluvsmc]

Sounds like a WINS issue or Master Browser issue if you can't see it in Network Neighborhood. Are these servers Windows NT, 2000 etc.?

Steven S.
MCSA
A+, Network+, Server+, i-Net+

 

[candyman200]

All our servers are Win2K. Our PDC is our Master Browser but a few other servers (and PCs) are identified in Dameware as Backup Browsers.

 

[aznluvsmc]

Are you running clustered servers? What are the error messages received when accessing the servers?

Are you able to ping the clients from the missing servers? From the missings servers, are you able to ping their own IP address?

Steven S.
MCSA
A+, Network+, Server+, i-Net+

 

[candyman200]

We're not running clusters.

When pinging by name the error is "Unknown host".

The servers that are MIA are in remote offices - but when I telnet to one of them (telnet by IP is the only way to reach them) ... pinging itself by name or IP, it resolves.

From the missing server (telnet) things look OK.

 

[GlenJohnson]

Try creating a hosts file and see if that helps. If aznluvsmc is correct, create a lmhosts file also. See if they come up MIA while using them. Good luck.

Glen A. Johnson
If you're from Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin check out Tek-Tips in Chicago, Illinois Forum.

TTinChicago

http://www.johnsoncomputers.us

 

[aznluvsmc]

Unknown host means that there is an error in the WINS database if using a WINS server or an error in the DNS database.

If you're not using a WINS server then the computers maynot be registering their NetBIOS names properly.

Steven S.
MCSA
A+, Network+, Server+, i-Net+

 

[candyman200]

It appears the problem might be solved ... I noticed that the Name Servers on the Primary Domain Controller was missing the IPs for 2 of the remote servers (missing step in the setup process of the remote servers). Once the NS listed on the PDC had their respective IPs included and the data propagated across to the other DCs then the servers reappeared in Dameware and NetHood. I'll keep an eye on it during the day but I think it's resolved.

Thanks for all the direction in the thread !