Configuring WINS Clients

Configuring WINS Clients

For clients to dynamically register their NetBIOS names with a WINS server and use the server for name resolution, they must be configured with the IP address of the WINS server. A WINS client can run on any of the following platforms:

• Windows XP

• Windows 2000

• Windows NT 3.51 and higher

• Windows 95

• Windows 98

• Windows for Workgroups 3.11 running MS TCP/IP32

• Microsoft Network Client 3.0 for MS-DOS

• LAN Manager 2.2c for MS-DOS

There are two methods available for configuring clients with the IP address of the WINS server. You can use a DHCP server or you can configure each client manually.

If you opt to use DHCP, Windows 2000 clients require no configuration because they are enabled for DHCP by default. But you must configure the DHCP server to assign the IP address of the WINS server to DHCP clients. To do so, configure the 044 WINS/NBNS Servers and the 046 WINS/NBT Node Type DHCP options (see Figure 6.4). You can do so by configuring the scope options within the DHCP management console (refer to Chapter 3, "DHCP," for instructions on how to configure scope options). The first option specifies the IP address of the WINS server. The second option specifies the node type or methods the client uses to resolve NetBIOS names and in what order it does so.

Figure 6.4. Configuring DHCP to support WINS clients.

Clients can also be configured manually by an administrator, which means visiting each workstation and typing the IP address of the WINS server. To manually configure a Windows 2000 client for WINS, perform the following steps:

1. Point to Start, Settings, and click Network and Dial-up Connections.

2. Right-click the Local Area Connection and click Properties.

3. From the list of components , select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.

4. From the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window, select the Advanced button and click the WINS tab (see Figure 6.5).

   Figure 6.5. Configuring a WINS client.

   

5. Click the Add button and enter the IP address for the WINS server. Repeat the process for additional WINS servers on the network. Click OK.

As you can see from Figure 6.5, there are several other configurable options available on the WINS tab. These options are summarized in the following list:

• Enable LMHOSTS Lookup This option is selected by default and enables the client to use an LMHOSTS file to resolve NetBIOS names to IP addresses. The Import LMHOSTS button allows you to import an existing file into the LMHOSTS file on the client computer.

• Enable NetBIOS over TCP /IP This option specifies that the local area connection uses NetBIOS over TCP/IP and WINS. This setting should be enabled if the computer must communicate using NetBIOS computer names or with pre-Windows 2000 clients.

• Disable NetBIOS over TCP /IP This option disables NetBIOS over TCP/IP and WINS for the local area connection. On a network that runs only Windows 2000, this option can be selected.

• Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server Select this option to have the client obtain WINS information from a DHCP server. If the client is configured to receive its IP address from a DHCP server, this option is selected by default.

Windows 2000 now supports up to 12 configurations of WINS. Windows NT 4.0 supports two.

Configuring Static Mappings

In some cases, there may be clients on the network that are unable to dynamically update their NetBIOS name with a WINS server. A UNIX host is an example of a client that cannot register and update its record with a WINS server. In these instances, the administrator can manually add a static mapping to the WINS database. Once a static mapping is created, it does not need to be renewed, nor does it expire. The administrator must manually delete the entry. To configure a static mapping, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, Administrative Tools, and click WINS.

2. Within the WINS management console, right-click Active Registrations and select New Static Mapping.

3. Within the New Static Mapping dialog box, enter the computer name (NetBIOS name) for the host (see Figure 6.6).

   Figure 6.6. Configuring a static mapping.

   

4. If required, type the NetBIOS scope.

5. Using the drop-down arrow, select the type of entry you are creating.

6. Enter the IP address of the host and click OK.

Keep in mind that if the client for which you created a static mapping is also a DHCP client, a client reservation is created so the client is leasing the same IP address all the time. If the client leases an IP address that is different from the IP address listed in the WINS database, the name will be resolved incorrectly (to the incorrect IP address) .

WINS Proxy

Clients that do not support WINS resolve NetBIOS names using a broadcast. For routed IP networks, this method of name resolution becomes difficult, if not impossible . In such situations, you can configure what is known as a WINS proxy agent .

A WINS proxy agent (sometimes just called a WINS proxy) is a computer on a local subnet that listens for name resolution broadcasts. Once the WINS proxy receives a broadcast, it queries the WINS server on behalf of the non-WINS client and returns the results to the client. In terms of NetBIOS name registration, the WINS proxy also listens for name registration broadcasts on the local subnet. When a non-WINS client attempts to register its NetBIOS name, the WINS proxy queries the WINS server to ensure that the name has not already been registered by another host.

To configure a computer to act as a WINS proxy, you must edit the local Registry. To do so, navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NETBT\Parameters key and change the value of the EnableProxy to 1 (see Figure 6.7) .

Figure 6.7. Enabling the WINS proxy using the Registry.