Windows clients cannot see server. Mac clients can.

[charlielowndes]

I'm pulling my hair out with this one. I'm Admin at a school.

We have an i7 MacMini Server running server 3 on Mavericks, our Mac's see if just fine on the network and can connect and share files, our Ubuntu laptops can see it too, no issues.

Windows 7 boxes, no, can't see it.

I can ping it from the windows boxes, but I can't access any resources.

Funny thing is, the windows machines rely on it for the Internet, as they are set up to look for it in DNS, if it isn't there, they cannot connect to the intranet, so why oh why can they not see the shares on it ?

I'm loosing the will to live with it!

Thanks if anyone has any enlightenment, I'll try anything now!

 

[Coleman2010]

I'm pulling my hair out with this one. I'm Admin at a school.

We have an i7 MacMini Server running server 3 on Mavericks, our Mac's see if just fine on the network and can connect and share files, our Ubuntu laptops can see it too, no issues.

Windows 7 boxes, no, can't see it.

I can ping it from the windows boxes, but I can't access any resources.

Funny thing is, the windows machines rely on it for the Internet, as they are set up to look for it in DNS, if it isn't there, they cannot connect to the intranet, so why oh why can they not see the shares on it ?

I'm loosing the will to live with it!

Thanks if anyone has any enlightenment, I'll try anything now!

Is windows file sharing enabled? It sounds like Appleshare is enabled but not SMB.

 

[charlielowndes]

Yes, SMB is on.

 

[mattofsmeg]

>but I can't access any resources.
How are you attempting to do this?

In windows file explorer try (in the address field)
//<mac minis ip or dns name>

What type of accounts on the mac mini are you using to authenticate to the shares? Local or Local network (open directory)?

 

[hiddenmarkov]

Have the windows clients ever worked and was there a change around the time things went awry you can see if related to and possibly undo if only to test?

 

[charlielowndes]

I have an update to this, after spending many hours troubleshooting this issue (and other issues, mainly poor performance) and discussing with Apple Enterprise support.
I threw the towel in and started frm scratch with a clean install.

Used all the same settings for DNS, was using a FQDN etc.

Guess what? Works brilliantly, like a charm, in the end I spent a fraction of the time that I have troubleshooting. Apple are at a loss, so am I.

It must have been corrupt from day 1.

So admins, if it doesn't look or feel 'right' on day 1, nuke it.

 

[Apple2Frvr]

Thank you for the advice. I'm about to setup Mac OS X Server for some Windows clients. The main use will be file serving. If you had to choose between more ram or better CPU, What would you prefer?