Name Resolution

Name resolution is critical for distributed browsing to operate properly.

All computers that have the potential to become master browsers on an IP internetwork must be able to resolve the DomainName<1b> entry for the domain master browser. After receiving a positive response to the datagram Query for Primary DC, the master browsers must also be able to resolve the ComputerName<00> of the domain master browser. For the domain master browser to connect with each of the master browsers, it must be able to resolve the names of all servers that have the potential to become master browsers. The domain master browser listens for the directed MasterBrowserAnnouncement datagram sent by the master browsers over UDP port 138. These announcements cause the domain master browser to resolve the ComputerName<00> of the master browser and request from the master browser its locally collected browse list.

It is also important to understand that once a browse list is presented to the client, the client must resolve the ComputerName<20> of any server in the list in order to view its shared resources. Therefore, all clients in the domain must be able to resolve the IP address of any server in the domain. For most networks this means that the distributed WINS or DNS infrastructure must be working properly.

For information about name resolution through WINS, DNS, or LMHOSTS files, see "Windows Internet Name Service" in this book.

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