ZeWaren / Erwan Martin
2008-Oct-02 12:59 UTC
[Samba] Samba WINS Server losing all elections against
Hello everybody. I've been trying for weeks to find a solution for my problem, but since I couldn't find anything, here I am. I manage a network of about 200 PCs, 90% windows XP and Vista, 10% linux. A samba server is located on the main server, acting as a WINS server, to manage the list of connected computers. However, when a resident computer is badly configured (ie no wins server is specified), or if a stupid firewall is installed on it, that machine tries to become the local master. So it starts an election with my samba server... and it wins. This is the part I don't understand. Why is my WINS server always losing elections against other computers? I set its os level to 255, which I read is the highest value. Here is my smb.conf: [global] netbios-name = myworkgroup-server workgroup = MYWORKGROUP server string = myworkgroup Server wins support = yes prefered master = yes local master = yes domain master = yes os level = 255 Well, if I configure the resident computer correctly, ie: -On windows computers, add a 'wins server' in the TCP/IP properties, and set the registry parameter HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\"MaintainServerList" to No -On linux computers, set 'os level' to 0 and 'local master' to no in the samba configuration file. Then no election is generated and so my server is fine. Here is an example of what I see in my log file when I'm losing my status of 'local master' [2008/09/30 19:31:01, 0] nmbd/nmbd_incomingdgrams.c:process_local_master_announce(308) process_local_master_announce: Server PC-DE-CRETIN at IP 192.168.xx.yy is announcing itself as a local master browser for workgroup MYWORKGROUP and we think we are master. Forcing election. [2008/09/30 19:31:01, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:unbecome_local_master_success(148) ***** Samba name server MYWORKGROUP-SERVER has stopped being a local master browser for workgroup MYWORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.1.2 ***** [2008/09/30 19:31:18, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:become_local_master_stage2(395) ***** Samba name server MYWORKGROUP-SERVER is now a local master browser for workgroup MYWORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.1.2 ***** I also don't understand why the log file says I became local master again after losing that status, since it's not anymore (Querying the server does not work). The only way I've got to get it work again is to force-reload the samba server (/etc/init.d/samba force-reload). Does anyone know what I should do to get my WINS server to win the elections? I'm tired of having to restart my samba server every 20 minutes to make sure my people get a working list of computers. Thanks in advance. Erwan Martin, French network administrator student.
On Tuesday 30 September 2008 02:04:11 pm ZeWaren / Erwan Martin wrote:> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\"Ma >intainServerList" to NoOn the problem Windows boxen: =====================================Besides setting: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\MaintainServerList to No Also set: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster to FALSE =====================================But first test to see if the info below doesn't solve the problem before going around hacking the registry on the Windows systems (and let us know!). I use the following in my Samba PDC's: =====================================os level = 255 announce version = 5.9 ===================================== This was posted previously on the list: ====================================="I find that values over 64 ofter return unexpected results, and I've found that my Samba servers don't lose elections in recent memory and I usually leave them at the default value in smb.conf of 33." =====================================Haven't personally verified that anything over 64 should be a problem. That poster, myself, and others (I guess) were hoping for an official comment from the developers. Chris