This might be a bit lengthy but I hope it helps with your issue. Even with no servers the master browser will be used.
Here is what I think is happening. It sounds as if when you reboot the copier it is able to find the Master Browser, add itself to the list and access that list. The MB updates the list every 12 minutes. After the 1st update the copier is being left off that list. Once it is not on that list it will not be able to scan. Printing/RUI will work since it is a lower level function (OSI model) and all you need the router/switch/hub to find its IP address. Scanning is part of the transport/application layer and if the copier is not on the LMHost list the computer will not see it as another computer on the network.
A work around would be to manually enter the copier's name, IP address, and the domain in the LMHost file on the computer with the shared folder. This way the computer would be able to see the copier as more than just an IP address.
More about the master browser.
In the older days of a WINS server, it was the default master browser and maintained a list (LMHost) of all the computers on the network and their IP address so you could see them (browse) and their resources (shared folders) on the network. DNS has replaced WINS making SMB somewhat obsolete.
Even if you have no WINS or DNS server the computers on the network randomly elect a master browser. This computer maintains a LMHosts file for all the others to access for browsing via SMB. This "master browser" will change when the computer is shutdown and force a new election. Or if no MB can be found it forces a new election. The MB requests updates every 12 minutes.
It is possible that every computer has been set to not participate in the election, since I remember this was done as a security measure. Check that this registry key is set to auto:
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servi ces \Browser\Parameters
no=will not participate in election, yes=will be MB or a backup MB if there is one already (default for any Windows server OS), auto=participates in election (default for Win2k/XP)
Here is what I think is happening. It sounds as if when you reboot the copier it is able to find the Master Browser, add itself to the list and access that list. The MB updates the list every 12 minutes. After the 1st update the copier is being left off that list. Once it is not on that list it will not be able to scan. Printing/RUI will work since it is a lower level function (OSI model) and all you need the router/switch/hub to find its IP address. Scanning is part of the transport/application layer and if the copier is not on the LMHost list the computer will not see it as another computer on the network.
A work around would be to manually enter the copier's name, IP address, and the domain in the LMHost file on the computer with the shared folder. This way the computer would be able to see the copier as more than just an IP address.
More about the master browser.
In the older days of a WINS server, it was the default master browser and maintained a list (LMHost) of all the computers on the network and their IP address so you could see them (browse) and their resources (shared folders) on the network. DNS has replaced WINS making SMB somewhat obsolete.
Even if you have no WINS or DNS server the computers on the network randomly elect a master browser. This computer maintains a LMHosts file for all the others to access for browsing via SMB. This "master browser" will change when the computer is shutdown and force a new election. Or if no MB can be found it forces a new election. The MB requests updates every 12 minutes.
It is possible that every computer has been set to not participate in the election, since I remember this was done as a security measure. Check that this registry key is set to auto:
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servi ces \Browser\Parameters
no=will not participate in election, yes=will be MB or a backup MB if there is one already (default for any Windows server OS), auto=participates in election (default for Win2k/XP)
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