Re: ping request could not find host

I have enabled TCPIP...I have set the windows firewalls up as
instructed. I have actually tried file sharing with all firewalls
disabled and then again with all operational. I have the same mcafee
virus software on all three computers, the firewall is not installed on
any of the computers. At first in both situations I could see all
files between everyone, except dell2650. Dell2650 could not see share
files, but the files on that computer were able to be shared. Then I
shut down, rebooted when I came home after awhile and now I can't see
anyone from dell2650. The other two computers can see/share just fine.
I was able to share files with the dell I am having trouble with
prior to getting a new router. I upgraded to the N type netgear router
over the B linksys router. I just don't understand what is different.
Tech support at netgear told me to disable all firewalls and that I
didn't need them because the router is strongly encrypted. I am using
the WAP key.

Maria


Chuck wrote:
On 6 Nov 2006 19:01:52 -0800, "MariaL" <layportm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Chuck wrote:
On 6 Nov 2006 15:45:49 -0800, "MariaL" <layportm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Chuck wrote:


So Gateway can get server broadcasts from all 3 computers. But Dell2650 is
getting broadcasts from itself only, and has elected itself master browser. And
SilverInspiron is getting no broadcasts at all. All 3 computers are Node Type
Unknown, so no problem there.

Make sure that NetBT is explicitly Enabled on all 3 computers.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/netbios-over-tcpip.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/netbios-over-tcpip.html

Then check all personal firewalls. And other security components.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

I don't know what all that means. I know that Gateway can be pinged
by IP and Name from both Silver Inspiron and Dell2650. Silver Inspiron
can be pinged by IP and Name from both Gateway and Dell2650.
Dell2650 can be pinged by IP address from the other two computers but I
can not ping it from the other two computers by name. I don't know
what to do to fix this name resolution problem, so that the other two
computers can ping Dell2650 by name. From what I read until I have
resolved the name issue, the file sharing won't work.

In other words, I can file and printer share between Gateway and
SilverInspiron, but not with dell2650.

Well, Maria,

What you've described is normally caused by a firewall blocking name resolution
traffic. The articles that I provided describe the most common causes of your
problem, and what to do about them. If you don't understand something, ask
about it specifically, but when you say "I don't know what all that means.",
then "I don't know what to do to fix this name resolution problem", you're being
redundant.

With Gateway showing "There are 3 servers", a connectivity problem is unlikely.
And all 3 computers show node type of Unknown, so its not that a node type
problem.

A common, and easy to fix problem, would be the NetBIOS Over TCP/IP setting.
That will take you maybe 30 seconds / computer to check and / or fix.

Personal firewalls and other security components will be a bit more time
consuming. You're the one with the computer, though, so all that I can do is
suggest what you should do. I can't do any of it for you.

We'll try to help, but you have to help us to help you.

Sorry, I responded to the first part of your post and didn't see the
bottom part showing links to check out, till after I sent my reply. I
didn't scroll down far enough before responding. I did try enabeling
Netbios over TCPIP. It then made the network unresponsive, I couldn't
even ping by IP. I read somewhere in one of the links from a link,
(I have read so many today I am crosseyed), that mentions the Master
Browser shouldn't be a computer running XP Home Edition. My new laptop
the "Silverinspiron", is running XP professional. I am in the process
of upgrading the gateway and the dell2650 with the XP professional. I
have double and tripple checked the firewalls, there are none.

Once I have all three computers running the same OS version, what do I
need to do to make sure that only one computer is the master browser?
or am I getting ahead of myself? I really appreciate all your
assistance and have been reading all the documentation links.

OK, Maria,

Here's the thing. Your original reported problem was "ping by name returns
Cannot find host". Many times, master browser problems can be confused with
name resolution problems. In your case, this is not so. The "cannot find host"
error is plainly a name resolution problem.

So let's work on the name resolution issue first, and the master browser later.

For a small LAN, which you have, the proper name resolution is node type
Broadcast. Unknown, on a LAN without a WINS server, uses Broadcast.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/address-resolution-on-lan.html#Unknown>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/address-resolution-on-lan.html#Unknown

Name resolution broadcasts require NetBIOS Over TCP/IP. Without NetBT enabled,
you need a DNS server for name resolution. I strongly doubt that you have that.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

Without NetBT, you have to expect "cannot find host". That's the bottom line.

So if you enable NetBT, as you should, and you have an unresponsive network,
then we have to work on that first.

There are 3 functions that may use NetBT.
1) Name resolution.
2) Server advertisement (which is where the browser becomes involved).
3) Server access.

If NetBT is disabled, there are different possibilities.
1) Name resolution requires DNS.
2) Server advertisement packets (SMBs) bind directly to IP, ie SMBs are directly
hosted on IP.
3) Server access packets (SMBs) bind directly to IP, ie SMBs are directly hosted
on IP.

SMBs Over NetBT use ports 137 - 139, but SMBs directly hosted use port 445. You
MUST configure your firewall properly, to pass traffic to the appropriate port.
And this is where you have to look carefully for firewall components. Disabled
firewalls don't always work properly.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

If you have a LAN with 3 computers, all 3 computers need the same NetBT setting,
and the firewalls on each have to be consistent per the NetBT setting. And note
the difference between "Default" and "Enabled".
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/netbios-over-tcpip.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/netbios-over-tcpip.html

So having read all of the above, please ask questions. We'll go from there.

--
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

  • Re: Another Network Problem
    ... I have completed the create new network wizard on both computers - although on the desktop I had a print spooler error which meand I had to turn the spooler off. ... I have gone into the control panel and user accounts and turned guests on. ... You say there are no firewalls. ... If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off Simple File Sharing and create identical user accounts/passwords on all computers. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Do I really need firewall? A newbies question
    ... their own firewalls and you have the major ports blocked for the IPs ... you have assigned to your computers why would there be a reason to put ... router firewalls (on routers that I can afford lol) because it can lead ... I think this leads back to the age-old debate of which is better - ...
    (comp.security.firewalls)
  • Re: File sharing problems
    ... Both computers are fully updated, running XP home sp2, all the firewalls are ... My problem lies in file sharing. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • File Sharing XP Pro SP2
    ... I am working with 2 computers with identical configurations: ... Windows XP Pro SP2 ... No other Firewalls or Anti-Virus running. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Why is Doctor Who not in HD ?
    ... So you want to compromize the directors vision by sayiong you can't do ... The wire frame models for SD are perfectly detailed enough for HD since they are designed to exceed SD resolution in order to do anti-aliasing and close-ups. ... You only need one licence and you can run it on 12, 100 or 50,000 computers, whatever you want since it's actually just one computer powered by a networked multiprocessor OS running on each of them and operating from a central server. ...
    (rec.arts.drwho)