[Samba] Connection Problems: XP to Samba-2.2.3a on Linux

[Bob Havlin]

Sort of complex problem:
I am trying to connect to a samba sever vers 2.2.3a on a redhat linux 7.2
from an XP prof box
named 'bob' through a cable modem into my work domain.
I am able to connect to the server easily when on the local network at work
using
simply \\SERVER from the PC's in the domain (so samba is working well
there).
But I want to connect via my cable modem from my XP machine at home
to access files on the linux box.
\\SERVER and even \\IP_ADDRESS do not work
I thought initially there was a problem with a firewall (both computers have
it turned off), but regardless tcpdump on the server shows the following
when typing on the XP box
c:\> net view \\SERVER

(my home machine is 'bob' and the samba server is 'SERVER')
SERVER # tcpdump
11:40:05.209996 bob > SERVER icmp: echo request
11:40:05.210023 SERVER > bob: icmp: echo reply
11:40:05.234984 bob.3252 > SERVER.microsoft-ds: S 914589735:914589735(0) win
16384 <mss 1460,nop,nop,sackOK> (DF)
11:40:05.235012 SERVER.microsoft-ds > bob.3252: R 0:0(0) ack 914589736 win 0
(DF)
11:40:05.722536 bob.3252 > SERVER.microsoft-ds: S 914589735:914589735(0) win
16384 <mss 1460,nop,nop,sackOK> (DF)
11:40:05.722555 SERVER.microsoft-ds > bob.3252: R 0:0(0) ack 1 win 0 (DF)
11:40:06.223413 bob.3252 > SERVER.microsoft-ds: S 914589735:914589735(0) win
16384 <mss 1460,nop,nop,sackOK> (DF)
11:40:06.223433 SERVER.microsoft-ds > bob.3252: R 0:0(0) ack 1 win 0 (DF)
11:40:07.460620 bob > SERVER: icmp: echo request
11:40:11.988410 bob > SERVER: icmp: echo request
11:40:11.988439 SERVER > bob: icmp: echo reply

(I dont know what all of this means, but it looks like SERVER and bob are
communicating)

The strange thing is that the XP machine 'bob' connects with no problem to
the
Win2K PDC for the domain with \\WIN2KPDC

I have changed the 'local security policy' of 'Domain member: Digitally
encrypt of sign secure channel data (always)'
to Disabled and the 'Domain member:... (when possible)' to enabled on the XP
box bob.

The samba server SERVER is setup to authenticate via the Win2k PDC.
My smb.conf:
==========================
[global]
        workgroup = MYGROUP
        netbios name = SERVER
        server string = Samba Server
        interfaces = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
        security = DOMAIN
        encrypt passwords = Yes
        password server = WIN2KPDC
        log level = 5
        log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
        max log size = 500
        name resolve order = lmhosts bcast host
        socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
        preferred master = False
        local master = No
        domain master = False
        dns proxy = No
        hosts allow = 127. xxx.xxx.xxx. bob
...
==========================

I can connect to the SERVER using smbclient -L SERVER from another linux box
inside the domain,
as well as from another computer from outside the domain, however, I have
compiled samba-2.0 in cygwin
on 'bob' to test with the smbclient, but it says "timeout connecting to
SERVER:139, Connection to server failed".
(I tried this with the IP address of SERVER also)

I wonder if it has something to do with the netmask 255.255.255.128 on bob
vs. 255.255.255.0 on SERVER
(obviously I know nothing about netmask's implications with samba)

I believe I have isolated this problem to samba conflicting with some aspect
of my 'bob' XP configuration
since \\WIN2KPDC works perfectly fine

Any ideas out there??
Any help appreciated.
-Bob