Network plugin: my own computer is missing

[mdruiter]

One thing I noticed in the network plugin is, that my own machine does not show up in the list of computers. If I move there manually using Shift-F7 and \\COMPUTERNAME it is added, but after a few seconds it goes away again. Is this behaviour intentional?
(Sorry for posting this in an existing thread before. I misjudged changing the subject line.)

[manison]

I saw this once or twice on Windows Vista.

What operating system are you running on? Do you have the Network Discovery feature enabled (if on Vista)? Also, how about the Windows Explorer in this situation?

[mdruiter]

I run 64-bit Windows Vista.
Windows Explorer shows my computer consistently under Desktop->Network.
Both Network discovery and File sharing appear to be on.
I now noticed that two other computers are also not shown by default, and also disappear a second or so after I am back at the root. Whereas all 32 other computers are ordered alphabetically in the Windows Explorer list under Desktop->Network (in the main pane), these computers and mine are show at the bottom. The folder tree is completely ordered alphabetically. Maybe this rings a bell to anyone? The names and OSes are not special IFAICS...

[SelfMan]

That might be the common problem of the browse master. All the computer are fighting for the right to be the Browse master. I usually turn that service on all computers off except on the server or a computer which runs all the time on the network.

This causes less headache...

[Ether]

Whereas all 32 other computers are ordered alphabetically in the Windows Explorer list under Desktop->Network (in the main pane), these computers and mine are show at the bottom. The folder tree is completely ordered alphabetically. Maybe this rings a bell to anyone?

Well, it does ring a bell, looks like it's a related to the 4 KiB issue of the Network plugin. Maybe there's a corner case where the issue still shows up.

[mdruiter]

I translated that thread, and it sounds like the same problem indeed. I had only 32 computers, at this time only 31.
I wonder why the fix does not work for me...

[mdruiter]

At this time, I only see 29.
I now noticed that, when I use a shortcut (to our "network") created on XP, the computers are also missing.
In the Vista list those are at the bottom, as mentioned before, and "late": the list is there instantly and in alphabetical order, then the three or four computers (that are also missing in the Network plugin) get added at the bottom.
So I guess it's a general Windows issue instead of a Salamander thing. Except that Windows Vista "fixes" it itself...

[mdruiter]

Wait; my 'sysadmin' found a fix.
My computer description was quite long (51 characters), and after I shortened it (to 43, and ran "gpupdate /force" without log-off), my computer showed up!
So it's not the number of machines, it's the machines themselves...
I don't know whether the Network plugin can do something about it like Windows Explorer does, but for me this is fixed now.

[Ether]

My computer description was quite long (51 characters), and after I shortened it (to 41, and ran "gpupdate /force" without log-off), my computer showed up!
So it's not the number of machines, it's the machines themselves...

That's because the computers' names and descriptions are sent together in the response to a query. I guess your computer was the first one (alphabetically) that was invisible, right?

[mdruiter]

Yes, it comes (alphabetically) before the other computers that are (still!) missing.
Those also have long descriptions...

[Ether]

I think it's important to know whether the description itself is causing this or it's the same problem with the listing being too long. Ask your 'sysadmin' to shorten the description on the alphabetically last computer, so there's at least one invisible computer with a long description left between the visible ones a the edited one. Then let us know whether the computer showed up, or is still invisible.

[mdruiter]

For completeness I include a screenshot of my Vista Windows Explorer:
[attachment=0]Explorer.png[/attachment]
The (now) two special missing computers have descriptions larger than mine (LANTHAAN) now (41):
PB3: "PB - XEON-1.8-Dual - 8GB - 1.5TB - 64bit (PB analyse)" (53)
MANGAAN: "VV - Core2-Quad-2.4 - 4GB - 160+500GB (Analyse PC)" (50)

We will probably try to shorten the two descriptions. If that helps, I will let you know.

As the two missing computers are not the alphabetically last, I think I do not understand what you are asking. If you still need information or something to try, just ask.

BTW: NET VIEW does also not show the two special missing computers in the list. But NET VIEW \\PB3 and NET VIEW \\MANGAAN do show their descriptions. In fact, that's how I got them, as Vista (and the Network plugin at this time) does not seem able to display computer descriptions at all...

[SelfMan]

I've had trouble on one network where the description contained diacritics. Never the less can you try to remove the parenthesis/brackets from the description? Just use alphanumerical characters. Thank you.

[mdruiter]

The descriptions of the special missing computers have been shortened (to 44 and 43 characters) but still contain parentheses. Now all descriptions are 46 characters or shorter, and all are visible in the Network plugin. I also see Comments now in the Network plugin (and in Explorer if I use an XP shortcut to the network).
I also found an old Microsoft article about "Computer name missing in the browsing list when server comment more than 48 characters": http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231312
So I guess that was the problem... Fixed for me!

[mdruiter]

For the record: now again I cannot see any Comments, all are empty. But (even if I use an XP shortcut to the network) I cannot see them in Explorer either, there they are also empty. So that appears to be a Windows issue.