In order 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 be running any of the following platforms:
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, clients will require no configuration as they are enabled for DHCP by default. But you will have to configure the DHCP server to assign the IP Address of the WINS server to DHCP clients. To do so, configure the 044 WINS/NBNS server and the 046 WINS/NBT Node type DHCP options. You can do so by configuring the scope options within the DHCP management console (refer to Chapter 2, "Managing IP Addressing," 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 clients use to resolve NetBIOS names and in what order. Clients can also be configured manually by an administrator, which means visiting each workstation and typing in the IP address of the WINS server. To manually configure a Windows XP client for WINS, follow these steps:
There are several other configurable options available on the WINS tab, which are summarized as follows:
Configuring Static MappingsIn some cases there may be clients on the network that are unable to dynamically update their NetBIOS name with a WINS server. In these instances, a static mapping can be manually added to the WINS database by an administrator. After a static mapping is created, it does not need to be renewed, nor does it expire. The entry must be manually deleted by an administrator. To configure a static mapping:
Keep in mind that if the client for which you created a static mapping is also a DHCP client, a client reservation should be created for it so it is leasing the same IP address all the time. If the client leases an IP address different from the IP address listed in the WINS database, the name will be resolved to the incorrect IP address. WINS ProxyClients that do not support WINS may resolve NetBIOS names using a broadcast. For routed IP networks, this method of name resolution becomes difficult if not impossible all together. In these situations, you can configure what is known as a WINS proxy agent. A WINS proxy is a computer on a local subnet that listens for name resolution broadcasts. After the WINS server receives a broadcast, it queries the WINS server on behalf of the non-WINS client and returns the results. 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 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\ services\netbt\parameters and change the value for the EnableProxy to 1. |