Confused on WINS

What is WINS used for? Is it just used for pre-Windows 2000 clients?

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WINS essentially was the Pre Windows 2000 Client version of DNS.
(Note some apps still can require WINS)

Heres a good link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Internet_Name_Service

Mmartin_47

Ok so if I have a Server 2003 environment and all client machines run Windows XP Pro. as an example then I assume WINS is not needed, unless I have applications that need to resolve NetBios names. Is that correct?

nel

Mmartin_47 wrote:

Ok so if I have a Server 2003 environment and all client machines run Windows XP Pro. as an example then I assume WINS is not needed, unless I have applications that need to resolve NetBios names. Is that correct?

In theory yes because ADS runs ontop of dns. The main reason you still see wins being used is due to legacy applications. and like sie said it was pre-2000 as such.

Mmartin_47

Ok I know what I'm about to ask is sort of off-topic but here goes-

If I have one domain controller holding a primary DNS zone for let's say TestLab2003.local in Active Directory and I configure another DNS server hosting a secondary zone for TestLab2003.local as well- Question is do I have to enable zone transfers? Or is zone transfers only used when not storing in A.D.?

dynamik

DNS data for Active Directory Integrate Zones is stored in Active Directory and will be replicated with all other Active Directory data. Zone transfers are not used with this configuration.

Mishra

Here is the order of hostname resolution.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/172218

1. The client checks to see if the name queried is its own.
2. The client then searches a local Hosts file, a list of IP address and names stored on the local computer.

NOTE: The Hosts file location depends on the operating system:

Windows NT %Systemroot%\System32\Drivers\Etc
Windows 95 <drive>\<Windows folder>
Windows for Workgroups <drive>\<Windows folder>
Windows 3.1 <drive>\<Windows folder>
MS-Client 3.0 <Boot volume>\Net
Lan Manager 2.2c Client <Boot volume>\Net

Where %Systemroot% is the folder in which Windows NT is installed, <drive> is the drive on which the OS is installed, and <boot volume> refers to a boot floppy disk or drive C.

A sample hosts file, Hosts.sam, is installed with the TCP/IP protocol showing the proper format.
3. Domain Name System (DNS) servers are queried.
4. If the name is still not resolved, NetBIOS name resolution sequence is used as a backup. This order can be changed by configuring the NetBIOS node type of the client.