multi-os network

**Shard92** · February 7th, 2007, 12:18 PM

Have a client with a multi-os network that suddenly went down. They are using a hub and have anything from windows98 to xp home. They just added a new windows xp home machine. Everything worked fine. they then added write access to the new machine and shortly thereafter the network disappeared. the old windows xp home machine and see and access the network but none of the others can even see the network. the ip addresses are fixed. Any ideas before I head off into the sticks? ( it's a campground )

**NooNoo** · February 7th, 2007, 12:41 PM

It's probably a master browser issue... How many machines is on this peer to peer? Oh and talk them into having a switch....

**Shard92** · February 7th, 2007, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

It's probably a master browser issue... How many machines is on this peer to peer? Oh and talk them into having a switch....

4 : 2 windows 98 and 2 windowsxphome.

I have a bit of an idea of master browser but how do you sort something like that? I'm not network strong.... for some reason my mind has a hard time wrapping around all that stuff.... he did try removing the new computer from the network and still the 98 machines cannot view the network....

**NooNoo** · February 7th, 2007, 02:11 PM

master browser 101

Frankly, it was just as easy to rip out networking in 98 in safe mode and reinstall it. Remember it takes 15 mins to populate nethood, so start run \\machinename will work if things are right.

**Shard92** · February 7th, 2007, 02:30 PM

thanks.... I just dont' deal with enough network issues often enough to get into this usually.... I don't know what is going to happen.... I'm out of the loop.... I was just asked for ideas..... I wanted as much knowledge as possible in case I got sent out there...

**NooNoo** · February 7th, 2007, 03:14 PM

OK, well things to look at

Network properties in 98 - only allow tcp/ip, if there is ipx or netbeui, remove it. Reboot

98 can be pretty flakey on peer to peer, so get the two xp machines seeing each other, then add the 98s back one at a time.

**Shard92** · February 7th, 2007, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

OK, well things to look at

Network properties in 98 - only allow tcp/ip, if there is ipx or netbeui, remove it. Reboot

98 can be pretty flakey on peer to peer, so get the two xp machines seeing each other, then add the 98s back one at a time.

thanks will do.... I knew about the ipx and netbeui also but when it's not straight forward and got to root out the little whats it that keep two or more machines from seeing each other I tend to get lost....

earlier you recommended a switch will that make things more stable ( or maybe a router ) or just give them better communication? From what I unstand the hub broadcasts to all where a switch talks to individuals.... kind of like the old party line vs private line on the phones.... sorry like I said I have so many projects going ( contract work plus indivduals not to mention my own + family ) that stuff that ain't used often kind of leaks out the other side of my brain...

**NooNoo** · February 8th, 2007, 03:24 AM

Yup, a hub replicates all packets to all it's connections and a switch doesn't. Therefore a hub based network is more likely to suffer collisions of packets which then have to be requested again, slowing everything down. If you want the full description look up collision domains and csma/cd ...

**Shard92** · February 8th, 2007, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Yup, a hub replicates all packets to all it's connections and a switch doesn't. Therefore a hub based network is more likely to suffer collisions of packets which then have to be requested again, slowing everything down. If you want the full description look up collision domains and csma/cd ...

thanks been doing that as time permits.... thank you very much for letting me pick your brain....