[pptp-server] Net Neighborhood is misbehavin'

robert berzerke at swbell.net
Mon Feb 26 22:02:00 CST 2001


On Monday 26 February 2001 20:40, Robert Dege wrote:
> > In the history section, item 3 and 5 contradict each other.  I'll
> > *assume* that is a typo in item 3.
>
> Step 3 was the setup of the network prior to the inclusion of the PPTP
> server.  Since the PPTP server was installed, a WINS server was added to
> the network.  But only a few machines (6) are pointing to the WINS
> server.... until this problem is solved.

Then the *ONLY* computers you will be able to browse (short of hosts and 
lmhosts) are those six.
>
> > One thing that immediately springs to mind is are *ANY* of the clients
> > (or servers) running more than one protocol?  If so, this can really
> > screw up the elections.  Screwed up elections mean screwed up browsing.
>
> Client for Novell Networks is installed as well as IPX/SPX protocol.
> Can NetBIOS be directed to run over IPX instead of TCP/IP?

Yes, and that is the problem. From the 2.4 Kernel PPTPD Howto:

5.10    Q: Browsing doesn't work.  How do I fix it?
<snip>
 
        A: Are *ANY* of the clients running more than one protocol?  From the
Samba docs: "Every NetBIOS machine take part in a process of electing the LMB
[Local Master Browser] (and DMB [Domain Master Browser]) every 15 
minutes...The election process is "fought out" so to speak over every NetBIOS 
network interface. In the case of a Windows 9x machine that has both TCP/IP 
and IPX installed and has NetBIOS enabled over both protocols the election 
will be decided over both protocols. As often happens, if the Windows 9x 
machine is the only one with both protocols then the LMB may be won on the 
NetBIOS interface over the IPX protocol. Samba will then lose the LMB role as 
Windows 9x will insist it knows who the LMB is. Samba will then cease to 
function as an LMB and thus browse list operation on all TCP/IP only machines 
will fail.


>
> > The other thing I noticed is from your comments, it looks like you might
> > be running multiple subnets.  Correct?
>
> Our network is a Class B network (255.255.0.0)  Our IP addresses range
> from 172.28.0.0 - 172.28.255.255
>
>
> -Rob
>

Your comment:
> > /etc/chap-secrets
<snip>
> > #Use IP within same subnet to debug Nethood problem.
lead me to believe there were multiple "networks" to deal with.  If there's 
not, then situation is a whole lot simpler.

Robert Spotswood



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