WINSConcepts

WINSConcepts

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WINS stands for Windows Internet Name Service and is used to support NetBIOS name resolution for downlevel Windows clients . In a mixed environment in which you still have some NT servers or workstations, you may need to implement WINS on one or more servers in your network. WINS enables downlevel (Pre-Windows 2000) computers to resolve NetBIOS names into IP addresses without the need to use broadcasts. In addition, some legacy/downlevel applications may rely on NETBIOS and may still require WINS even if legacy or downlevel systems no longer exist on the network.

How WINS Works

WINS centralizes the registration of computer and domain NetBIOS names into a central WINS database on one or more WINS servers on your network. When NetBIOS computers start up, they register their name and IP address with the WINS servers. NetBIOS clients can then contact the WINS servers to resolve the registered computer's NetBIOS name into its IP address to establish network communications with it.

WINS Requirements

To implement WINS on your network, you need to meet the following requirements:

WINS server requirements

A server with a static IP address and with the WINS service installed. A single WINS server can support up to about 5,000 WINS clients. Networks that require WINS should have at least two WINS servers for fault tolerance in case one becomes unavailable. WINS database replication can be configured to allow WINS servers to share a common WINS database.

WINS client requirements

All Microsoft Windows versions can function as WINS clients. The client must be configured with the IP address of at least one WINS server on the network.

Note that when WINS is installed on WS2003, the WINS console in Administrative Tools can be used to manage only WS2003 or W2K WINS serversit can't be used to manage downlevel NT WINS servers.

WINS Terminology

Static mapping

A NetBIOS name-to-IP-address mapping that is manually created in the WINS database of a WINS server. Static mappings can be configured for servers that don't support WINS to allow WINS clients to resolve their names and access them.

WINS proxy

A proxy that listens to broadcasts from non-WINS clients, forwards them to a WINS server for name resolution, then broadcasts the result to the clients.

Pull partner

A WINS server that is configured to request WINS database updates from its replication partner at specific intervals. Pull partners are often configured over slow WAN links.

Push partner

A WINS server that is configured to notify its replication partners when it has accumulated the threshold number of WINS database updates it wants to pass on to its partners. Push partners are generally configured when fast LAN links connect WINS servers.

Push/pull partner

A WINS server that is configured as both a push and a pull partner.