What criteria are used to decide which machine will be the Master Browser?

Master Browser - This machine maintains the list of resources on the network and listens for announcements from other machines to add to the browse list.

Domain Master Browser - The primary domain controller (DC) of a domain is given a special bias in browser elections so that it will become the Domain Master Browser. This design ensures effective browsing when a domain spans multiple subnets. The Master Browser on each subnet uses a directed datagram to announce itself to the Domain Master Browser. The directed announcement is made possible through an entry in the LMHOSTS file on the Master Browsers for the DC. Using the LMHOSTS file requires a Windows 2000 Professional, Windows NT Advanced Server, NT Server, or NT Workstation computer to browse across WAN connections.

Preferred Master Browser - A machine can be designated as the preferred master browser and when this machine starts it will force a browser election and will win unless one of the other machines is the PDC or also has the preferred master browser flag set.

Backup Browser - This type receives a copy of the browse list from the master browser, if it cannot find the Master Browser it will force an election.

Potential Browser - This does not receive a copy of the browse list, but can be promoted to a backup browser by the master browser, or actually become the master browser as the result of an election.

Non-Browser - A non-browser does not maintain a browse list.

Preferred master

Master

Backup browser

Potential browser

Windows NT Server that is the PDC

Windows NT Server that is a BDC

Windows NT Server

Windows NT Workstation

Windows 95

Windows for Workgroups

4.0

3.51

3.5

3.1