samba - Apr 2004 - Printing problem, only XP-PRO

Hi,

I share a printer and some shares on my samba 3.0.2a-debian server. No 
fancy domain-logon, just plain workgroup connect (smb.conf below).

The problem is, sometimes when i choose to print from my XP-pro machine, 
the printer don't react... The shares work fine, and i read/write from 
them, but i can't print. Neither cups, samba or syslog throws any error 
in the log, and the printjob just halts in the systray. The printer 
shows itself as ready, but if  I try to change any options in the 
printer preferences, I get a CAN'T SAVE CONFIGURATION error!

The problem is solved only upon a samba-restart, and then I print and 
change options without any problems... until next time I can't print 
(The log below is from samba after a restart)

 From XP-home, where i type passwd on each connection to the shares, I 
print everytime without any problems.

Please help
Thanks
Torben


--- smb.conf ---
[global]
    netbios name = SERVER
    workgroup = NR4
    server string = server
    security = user
    encrypt passwords = true
    passdb backend = smbpasswd
    socket options = IPTOS_LOWDELAY TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=4096 
SO_SNDBUF=4096
    dns proxy = no
    load printers = yes
    printing = cups
    printcap name = cups
    log file = /var/log/samba/samba.log
    log level = 2

[printers]
   comment = Printere
   path = /tmp
   browseable = yes
   public = yes
   guest ok = yes
   writable = yes
   printable = yes
   printer admin = @lpadmin


SAMBA LOG

[2004/04/26 16:05:54, 2] smbd/reply.c:reply_special(105)
   netbios connect: name1=NR4          name2=XPPRO
[2004/04/26 16:05:54, 2] smbd/reply.c:reply_special(112)
   netbios connect: local=server remote=xppro, name type = 0
[2004/04/26 16:05:54, 2] smbd/sesssetup.c:setup_new_vc_session(591)
   setup_new_vc_session: New VC == 0, if NT4.x compatible we would close 
all old resources.
[2004/04/26 16:05:54, 2] smbd/sesssetup.c:setup_new_vc_session(591)
   setup_new_vc_session: New VC == 0, if NT4.x compatible we would close 
all old resources.
[2004/04/26 16:05:54, 2] auth/auth.c:check_ntlm_password(305)
   check_ntlm_password:  authentication for user [torben] -> [torben] -> 
[torben] succeeded

I have inherited a Samba 2.2.8a server with 12 NetBIOS aliases along with a
normal NetBIOS name.  This was thought to be a good method of partitioning
the shares and a way for logical referencing by a project.  Admirable goals.

However, I am noticing that the WINS registration for some of these NetBIOS
aliases seems to get dropped at times.  I have people using the alias saying
that their share cannot be accessed at times.  When I check indeed this is
the case the NetBIOS alias does not respond at all.  

Restarting the samba server seems to correct the problem.  In fact, I am
having to resort to restarting the server twice a day to prevent this
problem.  

Any ideas as to how to resolve this situation.

Thanks

Mike Parker
Systems Administrator
parkerm@ga.com