Browsing with a Multihomed PDC

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

You may encounter browsing problems in a TCP/IP environment with a multihomed primary domain controller (PDC). One of the problems you may encounter is incomplete browse lists. For additional information about the symptoms of a multihomed browser, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q158487 Browsing Across Subnets w/ a Multihomed PDC in Windows NT 4.0

RESOLUTION

The Domain Master Browser service properly binds to only one network interface. The role of domain master browser is served by the PDC. It is preferred and suggested that your PDC not be multihomed.

If your PDC is multihomed because it is serving as a router and you are not afforded the option to promote a singlehomed backup domain controller (BDC) to PDC, you can try the following technique to work around this problem.

Unbind the WINS Client (TCP/IP) interface from all of your adapters except for one. This will also unbind the NetBIOS, Workstation, and Server interfaces from this card. It is recommended that these bindings remain on the adapter on the busiest segment. Although the WINS Client (TCP/IP) interface is unbound from the other adapters, there will still be connectivity to the PDC from the other segments. The TCP/IP Protocol interface is left bound, which will be able to route the requests to the bound interface. After unbinding the additional adapters, you should make sure that WINS and any LMHosts files do not refer to the unbound adapters.

Follow these steps to unbind the WINS Client (TCP/IP) interface:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Network.



2. Click the Bindings tab.



3. In the Show Bindings For drop down box, select All Adapters.



4. Expand all of the adapters.



5. Select WINS Client (TCP/IP) and click Disable.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q188305 Troubleshooting the Microsoft Computer Browser Service

Q191611 Symptoms of Multihomed Browsers

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : winnt:3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb