kasip: What's going on with my Windows file

So you want some diagnostics to see what's happening in your Windows file sharing environment.

This FAQ doesn't attempt to explain how to set up PC or MAC systems to share files. It documents some tools to see what's actually going on. A more complete discussion is provided at http://homepage.mac.com/william_white/smbdoc.html

Introductory comment is that in Windows file sharing, "Browsing" (the ability to "see" server file structures in the Network Neighborhood, or equivalent) is completely independent of "Accessibility" (the ability to mount or open a shared resource).

On the MAC these are handled by distinct daemons - nmb for name browsing, and smb for accessing shares.

1. Commands you can enter from the PC Command terminal (Start -> Run -> Command (or Cmd)

ipconfig

Shows IP address and status of current connection.

ipconfig /all

Shows status and IP addresses of all adaptors. (MAC equivalent is the Network Utility Info tab)

ping ip_address

Ping a remote host using it's IP address: tests a fundamental physical connection is okay. (The MAC equivalent is the Network Utility ping tab)

net view

Shows your PC's basic network information: server name and workgroup.

nbtstat -A ip_address

Shows what windows services are available at ip_address: this can be the PC client, or any Windows services system, including any MAC with Windows File Sharing (Samba, SMB) enabled.

It will show the name of the server, the name of the workgroup and any shared services: if there are no services of type = <20> then the server is not properly set up to share files. Type <20> are shared file services.

If the server is operating as a windows master browser, you'll see a line including .. __ Master Browser __ .. and showing the workgroup.

If there is a DNS or WINS server available to resolve names to IP addresses, then the command can specifiy the server name as follows (and provide the same information):

nbtstat -a server_name

2. Commands possible from a MAC OS X 10.2 system or later. These are terminal commands executed as root user.

% smbclient -NL ip_address

Queries the server at ip_address (like nbtstat). Typical dialogue is

[whitew-ti:> admin# smbclient -NL 192.168.1.100
added interface ip=192.168.1.101 bcast=192.168.1.255 nmask=255.255.255.0
Anonymous login successful
Domain=[KENWHITE] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 2.2.3a]

Sharename Type Comment
---------------- ------ --------------
MUSIC Disk mp3 Galleries
MOVIES Disk mpg Galleries
XD1 Disk User Directories (extension)
NuMOVIES Disk DVD Movie Gallery (if available)
IPC$ IPC IPC Service (samba 2.2.3a on OSX 10.2.2)
ADMIN$ Disk IPC Service (samba 2.2.3a on OSX 10.2.2)

Server Comment
--------- -------------
KENNEDY-MAC samba 2.2.3a on OSX 10.2.2

Workgroup Master
-------------- ---------
ANCORD1 CARLAK
KENWHITE KENNEDY-MAC

Explanation:

the command options -NL ask smbclient to use anonymous login (N=No password) and list (L) the service names as found on that server.

In this case, the server at 192.168.1.100 has accepted the anonymous query;

it lists various shares on this server (Music, Movies, XD1 and so on);

it states the workgroup, server name, windows services software (Samba) and server commentary;

it also states the Workgroups that the server has cached, together with which server in each found Workgroup is acting as Master Browser.

Note that the "homes" shared directory, corresponding to /Users/ is not listed - it is not a browseable share: however a given user with a logon on the MAC will see hi