Re: Windows Explorer - Folder Pane Doesn't Open

On Sat, 13 May 2006 08:15:01 -0700, WPD
<county(please-delete-this)pyrenees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi Chuck
It took awhile, but I am finally back home for a few days. My response to
your last post is at the end of this message.

Dang Top poster. ;)

"Chuck" wrote:

On Tue, 2 May 2006 06:49:02 -0700, WPD
<county(please-delete-this)pyrenees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi Chuck

"Chuck" wrote:
Both browsing (ability to see other computers), and name resolution (ability to
identify other computers) will take longer to work, with NetBT bound to
multiple
transports, and using each to get results. Having the Hamachi transports is
going to have the same effect as having IPX/SPX, IPV6, or NetBEUI - it will
drag
down performance. <

I searched the Hamachi forum to ascertain whether or not NetBIOS over TCP/IP
needs to be bound to the Hamachi virtual adapter. Unfortunately, I didn't
locate anything germaine. I shall post a question in a Hamachi forum asking
if NBT does need to be bound to it, and I shall let you know. Because I shall
be away from computer access for the rest of the week, you won't hear from me
for probably a week.

Both browsing and name resolution are cache based - they don't operate on a
second by second basis. So if your computers ever get disconnected or turned
off, the cache on each computer won't be up to date. And no 2 computers will
always refresh / update cache at the same time. Out of date cache leads to
discrepancies like you just mentioned. <

That was probably the cause of the discrepancy. I shall test again, multiple
times, on a random basis to see how it all holds together.

Thanks for your assistance.

OK, I'll await your update. I'm betting that a few folks may use the Hamachi
service, so what you find out may help somebody else. That's why we have these
forums.

****************************

I observed, on multiple occasions, that both the extended time to navigate
through "My Network Places" and the "error 64" in AMD's "browstat status"
output were eliminated when, on AMD, I navigated to "Network Connections;
"Advanced" menu; "Advanced settings"; "Adapters and Bindings" tab;
"Connections" box; Hamachi entry; "Bindings for Hamachi" box; and I UNchecked
"File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks".

After several days of use, the only negative aspect of this action has been
the inability to use the "Browse" function in Hamachi. This function
permitted one to sit at their local computer; open a Windows Explorer window
on their local computer, and have it list the shares on the remote computer
to which they are connected. However, since I only use Hamachi as an
authentication server, the "Browse" function is, effectively, irrelevant for
my needs. Besides using Hamachi's "Browse" function to navigate to local
computer directories was like wading through mud because it was so sloooow!
For my needs, its only useful feature was that I could copy/move files
between the local and remote computers. Fortuitously, the RealVNC program
that I use in conjunction with Hamachi has just added a feature that allows
me to copy/move files between local and remote computers.

As I stated in a previous message, I posted a question on the Hamachi
support forum concerning the length-of-time-to-navigate matter, and the
developer (post name is Apankrat) responded.

My question was: >For a Windows XP Pro / SP-2 computer, what are the effects
if I do NOT bind NetBIOS to the Hamachi virtual adapter?

I have experienced very slow access to areas of "My Network Places" when the
Hamachi adapter is "bound" to NetBIOS, and fast access when it is not. I have
made sure that the physical Network Interface Card with which I access my
network is first in all binding lists.<

Apankrat's response was: >If I remember correctly NetBIOS over TCP/IP is
generally required for
Win2k <> Win2k/XP communications. If you have two XP boxes, File
Sharing, which is implemented with SMB protocol, can go directly over
TCP/IP .. ie NetBIOS is not needed.

All in all, Windows File Sharing does have major performance issues when
it is used over laggy or lossy links. It's a known issue, it cannot be cured.<

Oh, well. I use the same links with Hamachi bound and unbound and the
transmission is, relatively, fast to respond with Hamachi unbound and very,
very slow with it bound. In addition, the "error 64" is eliminated when
Hamachi is unbound. UNBOUND - it works for me.

BTW, What does NBT do for us? In an earlier post, you stated that you "teach
Enabling NBT". In that same paragraph, you mention that it is needed for
name resolution, but I isn't that what DNS does in Win 2K & XP machines?

Regards

What is the advantage of using NetBIOS Over TCP (NetBT), rather than direct
hosted SMBs? Direct hosted SMBs are not supported by all versions of Windows,
just Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=204279

DNS is the current server based name resolution standard, replacing WINS. If
you have a DNS server, it's the way to go for the future. NetBT based broadcast
name resolution is used by 90% (my guess from this forum anyway) of small LANs.

Setting up a DNS server, though, is not a casual project. For a typical small
LAN (1 - 6 computers), broadcast based name resolution, and NetBT makes sense.
But, if you setup a server, and a domain, adding a DNS server isn't a lot more
work. And a domain makes a lot of sense, for even 3 - 4 computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/setting-up-domain-or-workgroup-plan.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/setting-up-domain-or-workgroup-plan.html

Now, as you've discovered, if your small LAN includes a (relatively) slow data
link to another network, having NetBT bound to the slower data link will cause
problems. Setting up a small LAN complete by itself is easy; setting up a small
LAN with a link to another LAN is not so easy. You have to selectively unbind
NetBT.

BTW, if you include an actual link to your Hamachi forum thread, the interested
folks here can learn with you. We post here to learn.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
.

Relevant Pages

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