[Samba] WINS server DMB and LMBs not communicating across subnet to update browse lists?

[jpullenmail-samba at yahoo.com]

Referencing: http://www.linuxtopia.org/online_books/network_administration_guides/samba_reference_guide/17_NetworkBrowsing_34.html

I've got two subnets (192.168.2.1 and 192.168.1.1). All the machines on both subnets are running XP Home or Pro and are all part of the same workgroup (WORKGROUP).

I've added an OpenSUSE box on x.x.2.1 and have set it as the WINS server with a very simple smb.conf, seen below:

[global]
workgroup = WORKGROUP
netbios name = SSDS
interfaces = eth0, localhost
bind interfaces only = yes
security = share
client lanman auth = yes
log level = 2
log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
name resolve order = wins bcast
os level = 69
preferred master = yes
domain master = yes
wins support = yes
hosts allow = 127.0.0.1 192.168.2. 192.168.1.


Both routers on the network are set to provide the IP of the samba-box as the WINS server, and all PCs on both subnets have it. All PCs on both subnets can now resolve names by NetBIOS name, and can map drives based on that.

So I set it all up and then force an election by restarting the then-current local master browser on the remote subnet.

The Problem is that none of the PCs on either side are getting updated My Network Places entries. I've got wireshark on both segments watching broadcast traffic, and wireshark running on the server reading all it's traffic, and I'm seeing no communication between the samba-box and the elected LMB on the other subnet except for a registration and response from the PCs that lose the election and win the election, but neither they nor any other PC on that subnet appear in the 'local' subnet, or vice versa. Both subnets settle down into regular host announcements.

One intriguing thing I notice, name queries on the remote subnet come through to the samba-box and are answered, but right after that answer the requesting machine will also request the backup list.

So why aren't the machines updating their browse lists, on either side? How do I tell what browse list the WINS server is distributing? Why aren't my local systems asking for a browse list?

Thanks for your help in advance.