WINS/DNS question

[aquaboy1976]

If Windows 2000 machines register themselves with DNS and any pre-Windows 2000 machines register with DNS through DHCP, why would I still need a WINS server? Can't the pre-Windows 2000 machines do name resolution throught DNS?

 

[GiaBetiu]

Windows was based on NetBIOS name resolution.
And it is an entire history behind. The idea was to access computers based on names (name resolution), and the process of registering the names to be automatically. Then Microsoft, when they found that for solving name broadcasting is not a fiable solution in larger networks, they were making WINS. That is a centralized databse for NetBIOS name resolution. And WINS have a nice advantage: computers will contact WINS server at startup and will communicate their existence.
Now, dynamic DNS is trying to do something similar (to dynamic update the databse).
Well, till now, looks like your quesion has the answer: Why not?
But if you open a TCP/IP packet (even from NT4) you will see that is using NetBIOS name resoulution. This is the way was build. It is inside of that protocol stack. And I don't think that Microsoft will change this. Gia Betiu
m.betiu@chello.nl
Computer Eng. CNE 4, CNE 5, soon MCSE2k

 

[aquaboy1976]

I'm reading that if a network was all windows 2000 there would be no need for WINS, so I got confused when I read that DHCP can register names in DNS for pre-Windows 2000 machines. (I'm just reading about all this and trying to learn it, so thanks for your patience)
So let me see if I understand correctly, pre-Windows 2000 machine use NetBios (where Windows 2000 machines use Winsock?), so because they use NetBios they have to do name resolution through WINS?

Thanks!

 

[GiaBetiu]

Windows 2000 is using DNS as primary for name resolution.
Window 9x will always use NetBIOS.
W2k will register themslef in a dynamic DNS, so they know this.
W9x doesn't now that DHCP is so nice and is adding their IP address to the DNS zone.


Winsock is technology, used by programmers. TCP for example has some ports. Winsock is a technology that is mapping those ports for programmers. Gia Betiu
m.betiu@chello.nl
Computer Eng. CNE 4, CNE 5, soon MCSE2k

 

[aquaboy1976]

thanks for helping me to understand.