[Samba] Cannot see linux machines from XP

[Al Schapira]

I have not yet solved the problem (below).
  
1) What would prevent both of the linux machines (ADS1, ADS2) from being
seen by the windows machine (DRS2) in its network places even though the
linux machines see all three machines in their network?

2) Does the (non)visibility of the linux machines depend upon the type
of 'authentication mode' e.g. "share" vs "user" configured in samba?

3) Does it depend on specific linux user ids, e.g. "guest"?

4) Do I want the linux machines to be masters or clients, or one of
each, or does the windows machine take control?

5) Can you see any errors in the smb.conf below?

First I want to get the linux machines to be seen, then I'll try to get
their files to be seen.

I would really appreciate suggestions.  Thanks.

	-Al


On Mon, 2011-07-25 at 00:29 -0400, Al Schapira wrote:
> I'll try to spell out the problem as best I can.
> 
> There are three computers on a LAN,  "ADS1", "ADS2" and "DRS2".
> ADS1 and ADS2 run samba-3.5.8-76.fc14.i686 under Fedora 14.
> DRS2 runs Windows XP professional, SP3.
> 
> Each of them can successfully ping all the others by name.
> They are all in the same WORKGROUP (GAMMA5).
> 
> The Fedora machines (ADS1, ADS2) can see all three machines (including
> the XP machine) in their Network places, and in the Windows Network,
> and can successfully read and write designated shared files on the all
> the other machines (including the XP machine).
> 
> The Windows machine (DRS2) cannot even see the linux machines in its
> network places. (It sees only itself, DRS2 in the WORKGROUP GAMMA5)
> Naturally, therefore, it cannot see files on the linux machines.
> 
> Where do I start to solve this?
> 
> Thanks in advance for you help.
> 
> 	-Al
> 
> Here is the non-comment part of smb.conf on ADS2
> ================================================
> [global]
> 	workgroup = gamma5
> 	security = share
> 	idmap uid = 16777216-33554431
> 	idmap gid = 16777216-33554431
> 	winbind use default domain = false
> 	winbind offline logon = false
> 
> 	server string = Samba Server Version %v
> 
> 	netbios name = ADS2
> 
> 	log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
> 	max log size = 50
> 
> 	cups options = raw
> 
> 	encrypt passwords = no
> 	guest ok = yes
> 	guest account = guest
> 
> [homes]
> 	comment = Home Directories
> 	browseable = no
> 	writable = yes
> 
> [printers]
> 	comment = All Printers
> 	path = /var/spool/samba
> 	browseable = no
> 	printable = yes
> 
> [other]
> 	path = /other
> 	read only = no
> 	guest ok = yes
> 
> ... other shares, nothing else.