Windows 2000 Browser Service

Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server and Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional continue to support the browser service, originally introduced with Microsoft® Windows® for Workgroups version 3.1, to provide for interoperability with domains and computers that are not enabled to use Active Directory^™ directory service. On a network of computers running only Windows 2000, clients can find network servers and file sharing resources through the shared folder object in the Active Directorydirectory service. However, as a practical matter, most organizations will use the browser service for the foreseeable future to service legacy computers that are not Active Directory–capable. The browser service and NetBIOS are enabled by default when Windows 2000 is installed.

In This Appendix

Introduction to the Browser Service

Windows 2000 Browser System Overview

Browser Elections

Browser Announcements

Browser Requests

Number of Browsers in a Domain or Workgroup

Browser Shutdown or Failure

Browse Service Across Multiple Workgroups and Domains

Computers Running Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, and Windows 98 as Master Browsers

Registration and Propagation

Testing Techniques

Related Information in the Resource Kit

For information about Windows 2000 IPX routing services, see "IPX Routing" in Microsoft® Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit Internetworking Guide.
For information about migrating from NetWare to Windows 2000, see "Determining Domain Migration Strategies" in Microsoft® Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit Deployment Planning Guide.