W - Z

W–Z

wide area network (WAN)

A communications network connecting geographically separated locations that uses long-distance links of third-party telecommunications vendors.

See also local area network (LAN).

Windows Clustering

A feature of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, that provides the complementary clustering technologies, Network Load Balancing clusters, and server clusters.

See also server cluster.

Windows Installer

An operating system service that enables the operating system to manage the installation process. Windows Installer technologies are divided into two parts that work in combination: a clientside installer service (Msiexec.exe) and a package (.msi) file. Windows Installer uses the information contained within a package file to install the application.

Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)

A Windows name resolution service for network basic input/output system (NetBIOS) names. WINS is used by hosts running NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) to register NetBIOS names and to resolve NetBIOS names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

See also IP address.

See also network basic input/output system (NetBIOS).

WINS lookup

A process by which a Domain Name System (DNS) server queries Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) to resolve names it does not find in its authoritative zones.

See also Domain Name System (DNS).

See also Windows Internet Name Service (WINS).

wireless communication

Communication between a computer and another computer or device without wires. The form of wireless communication provided as part of the Windows operating system uses infrared (IR) light to transmit files. Radio frequencies, as used by cellular and cordless telephones, are another form of wireless communication.