Browser Returns Truncated List of Resources

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

A domain user will get a truncated list of resources when they browse the domain with File Manager or the Net View command.

CAUSE

The browser service can only return 64 KB of domain/server names per transport. If the resource list for a domain cannot fit in a 64 KB buffer, the user will get a truncated list of resources available on the domain.

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following workarounds:

• Break up the current single domain into multiple domains.

• Reduce the description text for the servers in the domain. More servers can fit in the 64 KB buffer this way.

STATUS

The 64KB domain/server names per transport limitation has been removed in a Windows NT 4.0 Browser environment. All Browsers involved in transferring the Browse list to the client, and the client itself must be Windows NT Version 4.0. In a large Browser environment, this means that the Primary domain controller which takes on the especial role of being the Domain Master Browser, and the Master Browser on the client's segment, and all Backup Browsers on the client's segment must all be Windows NT version 4.0 for the Browser list to exceed 64KB.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.