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Browsing across subnets (e.g. Network Neighborhood) requires the presence of a Domain Master Browser. The DMB is always the PDC of a given domain.

By default, each subnet that contains a machine in a given domain/workgroup will have a Segment Master Browser for that domain/workgroup (unless browsing has been disabled). All machines in that domain/workgroup that are sharing resources will register themselves with their SMB (this process uses broadcasts). SMB on the same subnet will also use broadcasts to become aware of one another's domain/workgroup (this is one way foreign domains/workgroups can appear in a browse list).

Each SMB will build a browse list containing its domain/workgroup servers on the local subnet. Assuming your name resolution is configured correctly, each SMB for a given domain will periodically use the "domainname 1B" NetBIOS name to contact the domain's DMB and pass its local browse list along to the DMB.

The DMB will merge all of the segment browse lists into a domain browse list. It will also query WINS for 1B entries for other domains and add them to the list (this is the other way that foreign domains can appear in a browse list). The DMB will pass this domain browse list back to the SMBs.

As was previously mentioned, all domain SMBs must be able to resolve the "domainname 1B" name for their domain. In many cases, the easiest way to provide this resolution is to configure all SMBs and the DMB to use the same WINS system (either a single WINS server or partnered servers). In the absence of WINS, lmhosts can handle 1B name resolution. For example, if the domain is MyDom and the PDC's IP is 192.168.1.1, the entry would be:

192.168.1.1 "MYDOM \0x1b" #PRE

Note. The '\' in the special character '\0x1b' must be the 16th character in the name. Pad with spaces as necessary.

Note. For some reason, at least with 95, the name must be in capital letters.

Note. Win95 will not query WINS for 1B entries. If your SMB is 95, you must provide the entry in lmhosts.

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