Server 2003 browsing issue
 

For some reason, my SBS 2003 can no longer browse network shares on other
pc's that have more than 8 files in the directory.

Example, the SBS can not browse \\XP\C, but will browse
\\XP\C\DRIVERS as there is only one file in the directory.

The server can browse \\XP\C\DRIVERS (or which ever directory)
while the directory is empty or contains no more than eight files, but
as soon as more files are added I get the message

"\\XP\c\drivers is not accessible. You might not have permission to
use this resource. Contact administrator of this server to find out if
you have permissions. The specified server cannot perform the requested
operation."

The browsing problem appears for any machine I try to browse from the
server. There appears to be no problem browsing from any other machine
on the network.

I would be grateful if anyone could shed some light on this problem

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Iirc this is a limitation of 32 bit windows OS's (at least, certainly the older ones). You can map a drive to a few folders in and that will allow you to navigate deeper

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

I don't think this is the 128 character limit, sounds more like a security restriction if it's limiting the amount of files per folder..

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Maybe, but the fact navigation is ok from other machines would imply it's not security. That is of course dependant on whether the same account is being used. Is it not also 8 folders deep and/or 128 characters in Joliet?

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Another piece of info, if I browse to an empty directory, while the directory is open, I can save as many files as I want (I have just copied 150 files in to the directory). As soon as I refresh the view or navigate away, I can no longer access the directory.

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

You are correct but that isn;t the problem here, he's not complaining about folder depths but folder content ;) Read his post above this one :)

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

That is correct. I can browse deeper in to the directory structure if I type the full path of the next folder (as long as there are no more than 8 files in this folder as well)

e.g.

\\XP\C -can not browse, too many files
\\xp\c\drivers -only one file, so can browse
\\xp\c\drivers\folder1 -too many files, cant browse
\\xp\c\drivers\folder1\folder2 -only 2 files so can browse

Hope this make sence.

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

But you say you can from other machines? Is that using the same credentials?

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Yes, other machines are fine, all using the same user name and password. Until recently every thing worked fine. I am not aware of any changes that have been made recently that may have caused this issue.

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Doesn't sound like permissions then. I'm assuming you are using domain credentials - is that right?

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

The server is set up as a peer to peer network as opposed to a domain, is this what you mean?

The main problem for me with this issue was the server was creating files which were then saved on networked machines for various processing. I have got around the problem for the time being by letting the networked machines pull the files from the server instead.

I would still obviously like to know why the issue exists though.

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

yes, so the account you use is always a local account on the client machines? and all the clients can get to all the other clients ok using the same local accounts?

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Yes, that is correct.

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

are all the machines 32 bit? And are the areas set as shares?

Re: Server 2003 browsing issue
 

Yes and Yes. Some of the shares have been mapped as network drives on the server as well.