In all honesty it sounds like you have other problems that are causing the samba server not to become the master-browser. Or in other words, not being the master-browser is another symptom. Not the cause. Being the master-browser does NOT have anything to do with being able to connect to a network share or not. It is simply a left-over technology from days-gone-by from old "NETBIOS" days. The master-browser is simply a machine who is currently most-likely the guy who knows the most about the local network. The only information that server has/provides is a name-association to an IP address for a specific type of service. The list is not typically crucial, as other methods of discovery are tried. When in doubt, you could always create a lmhosts file and hard-code values on one machine in the network to ensure the values are correct.
In most networks today, all this lookup-stuff is done with DNS. (...and in corporate networks before DNS they used WINS) NETBIOS stuff is rather messy and excessively chatty on networks.
Answer from TheCompWiz on serverfault.comSamba
samba.org › samba › docs › using_samba › ch07.html
Samba
In a Windows-only network, browsing cannot function across subnets unless a Windows NT/2000 PDC exists on the network. Samba can act as a domain master browser and can perform that task even in a workgroup network, which means that the Windows PDC is not required for this task.
Red Hat
docs.redhat.com › en › documentation › red_hat_enterprise_linux › 4 › html › reference_guide › s1-samba-network-browsing
14.6. Samba Network Browsing | Reference Guide | Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 4 | Red Hat Documentation
There can only be one domain master browser per workgroup name. Here is an example of the smb.conf file in which the Samba server is a domain master browser:
Force SMB master browser
NethServer Version: 7.8.2003 Module: SMB Hello, Is there a way to force the Nethserver SMB server to be a master browser on the local network? I know it can be done by modifying the smb.conf file and adding some additional parameters, but these get overwritten every time the system runs the ... More on community.nethserver.org
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0
May 31, 2020Samba domain | The FreeBSD Forums
Ok I have domain controller SAMBA I have two client computers. Computer Names (SERVER10 and TEST) Now look ... The first one to enter the domain becomes the "Master Browser" The second client does not see the network environment Here is my problem. I clearly explained? More on forums.freebsd.org
Constant messages in log about Samba 'local master browser', despite Local Master option being off
When accessing CIFS shares on either of my windows PCs (Win7 & Win8.1) I get a constant stream of the following 2 messages every 5 to 10 minutes: Samba name server FREENAS has stopped being a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet x.x.x.x Samba name server FREENAS is now a... More on truenas.com
2
December 26, 2014[SOLVED] Which device should be the Samba (SMB) "Master Browser"? - General Support - Unraid
I'm wondering if there is any problem with my router being the SMB Local Master Browser on my network vs my unraid box? I didn't even know my router was acting as one, until i installed the Dynamix Local Master plugin which told me my router was. My router is running the Merlin firmware, which ad... More on forums.unraid.net
Fitzcarraldo's Blog
fitzcarraldoblog.wordpress.com › 2016 › 10 › 17 › a-correct-method-of-configuring-samba-for-browsing-smb-shares-in-a-home-network
A correct method of configuring Samba for browsing SMB shares in a home network | Fitzcarraldo's Blog
February 13, 2018 - So it appears that, from a Windows computer, the only sure way to find all Master Browsers is to use the command ‘nbtstat -a <computer name>‘ to check each remote machine in the home network, plus the command ‘nbtstat -n‘ to check the Windows computer you are using. Footnote The ebuild of the current Gentoo Stable Branch package net-fs/samba-4.2.11 (and probably the ebuild of the Testing Branch package net-fs/samba-4.2.14 as well) is not entirely correct, as it pulls in unnecessary dependencies (see Gentoo Bug Report No.
O'Reilly
oreilly.com › openbook › samba › book › ch05_01.html
[Chapter 5] Browsing and Advanced Disk Shares
As mentioned in Chapter 1, Learning the Samba, one machine in each subnet always keeps a list of the currently active machines. This list is called the browse list and the server that maintains it is called the local master browser.
Windows 10 Forums
tenforums.com › network-sharing › 141935-master-browser-system-lan-how-configure.html
Master Browser - which system on a LAN, how to configure? - Windows 10 Help Forums
Are there any utilities or cmd-box commands to manage the master browser? Hi there @x509 if Non Windows system e.g LAN using samba look in samba.cnf (samba config file usually in folder /etc/samba) set in global section (the section marked [global] ...........
Samba
samba.org › samba › docs › old › Samba3-HOWTO › NetworkBrowsing.html
Chapter 10. Network Browsing
July 5, 1998 - The local master parameter allows Samba to act as a LMB. The preferred master causes nmbd to force a browser election on startup and the os level parameter sets Samba high enough so it should win any browser elections.
O'Reilly
oreilly.com › library › view › linux-in-a › 0596007582 › ch03s04.html
Setting Master Browser Options - Linux in a Windows World [Book]
February 7, 2005 - Setting Master Browser Options In order to handle local network browsers like the one shown in Figure 3-1, SMB/CIFS requires one computer to be designated a master browser . This... - Selection from Linux in a Windows World [Book]
Author Roderick W Smith
Published 2005
Pages 496
NethServer Community
community.nethserver.org › support
Force SMB master browser - Support - NethServer Community
May 31, 2020 - NethServer Version: 7.8.2003 Module: SMB Hello, Is there a way to force the Nethserver SMB server to be a master browser on the local network? I know it can be done by modifying the smb.conf file and adding some additional parameters, but these get overwritten every time the system runs the ...
Linuxtopia
linuxtopia.org › online_books › network_administration_guides › samba_reference_guide › 17_NetworkBrowsing_13.html
Samba Administration Guide - Forcing Samba to Be the Master
Samba Administration Guide - Forcing Samba to Be the Master
O'Reilly
oreilly.com › openbook › samba › book › ch01_04.html
[Chapter 1] 1.4 Microsoft Implementations
This works because, at appointed ... of the other subnets in the domain. This is called browse list propagation. Samba can act as a domain master browser on a Windows domain if required....
Linuxtopia
linuxtopia.org › online_books › network_administration_guides › using_samba_book › ch05_01_04.html
Using Samba - 5.1.4 Domain Master Browser
In the opening chapter, we mentioned that in order for a Windows workgroup or domain to extend into multiple subnets, one machine would have to take the role of the domain master browser. The domain master browser propagates browse lists across each of the subnets in the workgroup.
FreeBSD
forums.freebsd.org › server and networking › web and network services
Samba domain | The FreeBSD Forums
June 10, 2020 - The old network browsing is only there for backwards compatibility. On all your Windows workstations, turn off the "Computer Browser" service. Disable it everywhere. That will prevent any of your workstations from becoming the "master browser". On your Samba server add these to your smb4.conf:
LinuxQuestions.org
linuxquestions.org › questions › linux-networking-3 › samba-master-browser-issue-164226
samba master browser issue
March 30, 2004 - Hi again, We recently added a couple of Linux servers to our network, and are working on configuring them. Meanwhile, we've suddenly lost the ability
Springer
link.springer.com › home › the definitive guide to samba 3 › chapter
Configuring a Master Browser | Springer Nature Link
Creating this browse tree doesn’t happen effortlessly, though; it relies upon the presence of a special type of server known as a master browser. Samba can function as a master browser, and Samba also includes options that enable it to fine-tune ...
Linuxtopia
linuxtopia.org › online_books › network_administration_guides › samba_reference_guide › 17_NetworkBrowsing_14.html
Samba Administration Guide - Making Samba the Domain Master
Samba Administration Guide - Making Samba the Domain Master
TrueNAS Community
truenas.com › forums › archives › freenas (legacy software releases) › freenas help & support › networking
SOLVED - Constant messages in log about Samba 'local master browser', despite Local Master option being off | TrueNAS Community
December 26, 2014 - You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. ... Not open for further replies. ... When accessing CIFS shares on either of my windows PCs (Win7 & Win8.1) I get a constant stream of the following 2 messages every 5 to 10 minutes: Samba name server FREENAS has stopped being a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet x.x.x.x Samba name server FREENAS is now a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet x.x.x.x It doesn't matter if I have the Local Master option in CIFS settings on or off.
Unraid
forums.unraid.net › home › unraid os support › general support › [solved] which device should be the samba (smb) "master browser"?
[SOLVED] Which device should be the Samba (SMB) "Master Browser"? - General Support - Unraid
April 3, 2016 - I'm wondering if there is any problem with my router being the SMB Local Master Browser on my network vs my unraid box? I didn't even know my router was acting as one, until i installed the Dynamix Local Master plugin which told me my router was. My router is running the Merlin firmware, which ad...
SNBForums
snbforums.com › wi-fi networking › asus wi-fi › asuswrt-merlin
SAMBA Share and MAster Browser...... | SNBForums
June 11, 2019 - Cheers Ed · Click to expand... Master browser capabilities require SMBv1. If your client have it disabled, then they won't be able to browse the available computers, regardless of what master browser you are using.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/linux › [samba] how to determine which machine is currently the master browser?
r/linux on Reddit: [Samba] How to determine which machine is currently the master browser?
April 24, 2014 -
I don't actually NEED to know. I'm just curious. The fact that I can't seem to find a straightforward answer to this question via Google suggests that either I don't know how to use Google any more, OR that knowing which machine is master browser isn't really a thing and I shouldn't bother with it.