Fade out WINS?

[RedTech]

I see everywhere that WINS can be faded out with the use of DNS. We are migrating to a pure 2k network, and have decomissioned the WINS server. I'm not sure I have a problem here but more so a need for an explanation.

I'm intersted in disabling netbios over tcp/ip, however after the setting is made the browser list becomes empty. All machines are able to be comtacting via FQDN and IP. Now I understand why, but is there something that can be done? Can the combination use of DHCP, DNS, and/or AD create the browse list. Or is it a must to have netbios enabled? Thanks

Pleae be patient, I'm currrently in training. =P

 

[tlcscousin]

NETBIOS over TCP is still used for downlevel clients. If you are using all W2K pro or XP clients you should be able to get away with not using it. If however you still have NT4,W95/98/ME clients you will still need that enabled, or WINS.

 

[brontosaurus]

When you've completed the switch to all 2K clients and servers, changing to Native Mode will facilitate the use of DNS for browsing purposes.

 

[RedTech]

brontosaurus:

"will facilitate the use of DNS for browsing purposes."

By this you mean enumerating the browse list?

 

[brontosaurus]

yes, it will aid in the population of the browse list...

 

[GlenJohnson]

Don't understand why you're not using wins. Its got a purpose. Use any and all tools available. (I even use the old hosts and lmhosts trick for name resolution. Anything to get my users as speedy a connection as possible. Before I came to the department and started changing things, the users would wait up to 20 seconds for a web site to load. Now it takes 2 seconds.) Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
gjohn76351@msn.com
"We will either find a way, or make one".
Hannibal (247-183 B.C.); Carthaginian general.

 

[SandyW]

Last week I found an article in ResourceKit about "Browse Service Across an IP Router with TCP/IP" and it says...
Implementing WINS eliminates the need to configure the LMHOSTS file or to enable UDP port 137.
But it also says...
It is recommended that you implement WINS for name resolution and browsing support.

So I hope this information helps.

 

[ErikButler]

Glen,

Web sites DO NOT USE WINS. They only use DNS. The main reason to keep WINS is because of downlevel clients and legacy software. We have a software that will not used TCP/IP sockets only named pipes which relies on WINS broadcast. DNS is faster thans WINS due to the fact it is a direct connection and not a broadcast. Microsofts is only supporting WINS because of legacy apps and clients. There was even talk of doing away with it in .NET but there were to many compatability issues at the time. Stick with DNS if possible and use WINS if necessary. Thanks
Erik Butler
2000 MCSE
erikbutler@centurytel.net

 

[GlenJohnson]

Sorry for the mis-understanding. I use WINS AND DNS. Yes, I know DNS is for web sites. However, I also stated that I use everything I can for name resolution. DNS, WINS HOSTS, LMHOSTS, the whole nine yards. Anything and everything that will help speed up name resolution. Client pc's have dns of our internal dns servers. Internal dns servers have dns address of themselves and the two address' provided by our isp. This way, the local machines look in the back room for name resolution, and if the servers in the back room have the name in cache, the users get to the site in seconds. If the internal servers don't have it in cache, they have to go to the other dns servers and get the name resolution, then it goes into cache locally. I never said use WINS for name resolution, I just said use any and all tools to make your life easier. Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
gjohn76351@msn.com
"We will either find a way, or make one".
Hannibal (247-183 B.C.); Carthaginian general.

 

[ErikButler]

i misunderstood you then. I would not recommend using host files to anyone especially if IP addresses change. People new to networking do not need to mess with these. It will cause you to want to choke the living crap outta someone when something goes wrong. They do have there purposes but if you are new stick to DNS and WINS if you have to.

Our company has 30+ servers 400+ clients in 2 states and we rely heavily on both DNS and WINS. I just finished upgrading the backbone to W2K and i will say that with it DNS and WINS both are easier to working with and more reliable. Thanks for the clarification Glen Thanks
Erik Butler
2000 MCSE
erikbutler@centurytel.net