Question : Network neigborhood

Ok, I have a wide network with more then a few subnets.  From my workstation, not all the systems show in my network neigborhood, even though I am pointed at the WINS server, and it has all the entries.  There are more then a few missing.

So I have entries showing in WINS, but not in my NN, I am so confused :(

Answer : Network neigborhood

Network neighborhood is populated by the browse list. The browse list is populated by my netbios broadcasts. Netbios broadcasts will not propogated over a router, through a NAT box, over a VPN tunnel or route over any site-to-site connection.

So, to get your clients to check in, they have to enable Netbios over TCP/IP on their NIC. Then, the browser service needs to be started. Also, you need to make sure that a firewall is not blocking Netbios/WINS port 137, and Netbios datagram ports 138 and 139.

Then, the Domain master or Site master browser will create that site's browse list. Wins is used to do the site-to-site transfer of the browse list. So, the only WINS connection needed is the Site's master browser.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windowsnt/4/server/reskit/en-us/net/chptr3.mspx?mfr=true

I have and article that explains the browser service to a "T". It is an NT4 article. For information on how to set up your browser in a WINS/WAN configuration. The only difference between NT4 and 2003 server is one small registry edit.

For NT4 the reg key is (isdomainmasterbrowser)
For 2003 server the reg key is (isdomainmaster)

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With that said, there is a chance you have a browser conflict. Look in event logs on your PDCe and main DC on the different sites for 8032 and/or 8021. If you see these,  you have multiple master browsers on that site.