samba - Apr 2001 - browsing multiple workgroups on multiple subnets

Is it possible to browse multiple workgroups on two or more subnets?

I have set up samba on either end of a VPN and can browse successfully from
either end, but only in the workgroup that samba is configured for.  Can
Samba be a member of more than one workgroup at the same time?  Looking in
browse.dat I can see all the machines in samba's workgroup and also the
other workgroups, but not the machines within.

I'm getting close, I can taste it!  Can someone give me a hint as to what to
do next?

Thanks,

R Brock Nanson, P.Eng.
Kamloops BC
Canada

The May issue of Linux Magazine has a good article by Chris Hertel (Samba team)
on browsing / netbios / SMB / CIFS etc.  He mentions the problem you are
having.  Worth reading.  I have discussed this browsing problem with Chris and
my current understanding is based mostly on his comments.

Alex Vandenham
Avantel Systems
Ottawa Ontario

On Thu, 26 Apr 2001, Brock Nanson wrote:
> Is it possible to browse multiple workgroups on two or more subnets?
>=20
> I have set up samba on either end of a VPN and can browse successfully from
> either end, but only in the workgroup that samba is configured for.  Can
> Samba be a member of more than one workgroup at the same time?  Looking in
> browse.dat I can see all the machines in samba's workgroup and also the
> other workgroups, but not the machines within.
>=20
> I'm getting close, I can taste it!  Can someone give me a hint as to
what to
> do next?
>=20
> Thanks,
>=20
> R Brock Nanson, P.Eng.
> Kamloops BC
> Canada
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> To unsubscribe from this list go to the following URL and read the
> instructions:  http://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/samba

Alex,

I'm a bit confused about this issue. It is my understanding that, along with
the names of workgroups, local master browsers, in its browse lists, have the
names of its respective local master browsers. When a client wants to browse
another workgroup, it will contact its local master browser which, on its
behalf, will ask the remote local master browser the lists of server in its
workgroup.

Then, why to use broadcast, if local master browsers do know the name of the
local master browser for the workgroup to be browsed?


---
Inaki Sanchez 
Redes y Comunicaciones 
Universidad de Navarra, Spain    <http://www.unav.es> 
<mailto:isanchez@unav.es>    +34 948425600 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: samba-admin@lists.samba.org 
> [mailto:samba-admin@lists.samba.org]On
> Behalf Of Avantel Systems
> Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 1:38 AM
> To: Brock Nanson; samba@lists.samba.org
> Subject: Re: browsing multiple workgroups on multiple subnets
> 
> 
> This is taken directly from the source code for the wins server;
> 
> /*
> * Special policy decisions based on MS documentation.
> * 1). All group names (except names ending in 0x1c) are added 
> as 255.255.255.255.
> * 2). All unique names ending in 0x1d are ignored, although a 
> positive response is sent.
> */
> 
> When your network neighbourhood browser does a lookup for a 
> workgroup (click on
> the workgroup name) the address that is returned from samba 
> wins is the LOCAL
> broadcast address - see for yourself & look in wins.dat and 
> see what you get for
> the ipaddress for the netbios name of the WG (type 1b).  If 
> the LMB truely is
> local, it works.  If the LMB is on the other end of the VPN, 
> that address will
> NOT get you there.  Windows gives you a useless error message.   
> 
> The consequence is that you do not get the browse list for 
> that LMB - unless it
> is a local host. 
> 
> Alex Vandenham
> Avantel Systems
> Ottawa Ontario
> 
> On Thu, 26 Apr 2001, Brock Nanson wrote:
> > Is it possible to browse multiple workgroups on two or more subnets?
> > 
> > I have set up samba on either end of a VPN and can browse 
> successfully from
> > either end, but only in the workgroup that samba is 
> configured for.  Can
> > Samba be a member of more than one workgroup at the same 
> time?  Looking in
> > browse.dat I can see all the machines in samba's workgroup 
> and also the
> > other workgroups, but not the machines within.
> > 
> > I'm getting close, I can taste it!  Can someone give me a 
> hint as to what to
> > do next?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > R Brock Nanson, P.Eng.
> > Kamloops BC
> > Canada
> > 
> >