Forcing WINS Replication

The replication of WINS records between WINS servers normally occurs in any of the following situations:

• When a WINS server starts.

• When the number of changes to the database reaches a certain number.

• At specific intervals configured by an administrator.

Sometimes, however, you might need to update the WINS database immediately. Within the WINS management console, administrators have the option of forcing replication to occur between WINS partners. To force replication between WINS server replication partners, click Replication Partners , right-click the server you want to replicate with, and then select Start Push Replication or Start Pull Replication.

WINS Persistent Connections in Windows 2000

One of the new features introduced in Windows 2000 is persistent connections between WINS replication partners. In previous versions of Windows, WINS servers disconnected from one another when replication was complete. Each time the replication process occurred, a new connection needed to be established, thus requiring more processor cycles. In other words, it's inefficient, especially when the WINS servers are connected with high-speed links. To make the replication process more efficient, administrators could configure replication to occur after a large number of changes occurred to the database, as opposed to having to reestablish a connection for a small number of changes. In any case, replication was slow and it was not uncommon to find inconsistencies in the WINS database.

With persistent connections, WINS servers no longer close connections after replication is complete. Not only does this increase the speed and efficiency of replication, because changes can be sent without having to wait for a connection to be established, but it also provides better consistency within the WINS database.