WINS Server on Win2k Pro? 1

[haslo]

Hi folks

I have a DSL connection since a week and now set up two computers. The Router (yes, I have one now) is DNS- and DHCP-Server but of course has no idea what WINS is. Is there any possibility to set up a WINS server in that network so I can also resolve computer names? An always running computer would be there, but I don't seem to find the WINS service - is it downloadable somewhere?

Thanks in advance

allow thyself to be the spark that lights the fire
haslo@haslo.ch - www.haslo.ch​

 

[pbxman]

WINS is a function of 2K Server - not professional. You do not need WINS on a 2-node computer connected via DSL/Router.

For what reason do you assume you need WINS? Your small network already does this task by boadcast (if configured correctly). WINS was designed for remote NetBIOS name resolution to IP addresses, and if you need or want some other type of local resolution on Windows 2000 - use LMHOSTS.

But - as I said before, you should have no need for WINS or LMHOSTS on a Win2K network if DNS is working correctly. If you do need it - you must have an NT or Win2K server to run WINS. LMHOSTS file will allow you to manually type in computernames and IP addresses in it for name resolution. It's simply a text file with the computernames in one colum, and ip address in the other.

Hope this helps..
Pbxman
Systems Administrator

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[haslo]

Thanks a lot for your answer. It seems a configuration problem then. That asks for a detailed description...

The first computer booted does show the neighbourhood correctly with "net show", but then is not able to resolve any hostanames other than it's own. The second computer (right now I have only two of them connected) then does not even show anything in the neighbourhood.
Pinging with the IP works alright though. Also are all shares accessible via the IP address.
I tried with the "NetBIOS over TCP/IP" switch in all three positions, with and without LMHOSTS (I think this should make no difference if there is no such file anyway) - virtually every combination possible.
The "register addresses of this connection in DNS" checkbox in the DNS tab was always checked.
The DHCP worked as expected and configured in the router - it started at the IP it should and then went upwards one address at a time, letting them be always in the same subnet.
I first had one IP fixed at 192.168.1.2 (the future server) and thought it would work with the resolution of the computer name (as you said, with a broadcast and ARP). When this turned out not to be true i switched it to DHCP too - which did not help a thing...
Both computers are running a Win2k Pro.

The configuration with "ipconfig /all" seemed alright to me at the first glance (the router as DNS and DHCP as well as as Gateway, WINS empty)

I now solved my problem temporarily with the LMHOSTS-file. Though it was a job of five minutes, I don't want to do this for every new computer I plug into the network (will be at least 3 in the next one or two weeks) :-( - and I know it's my fault somehow and I want to get better ;-)

Any ideas? Thanx in advance...

allow thyself to be the spark that lights the fire
haslo@haslo.ch - www.haslo.ch​

 

[pbxman]

2 more things to check -

1)Make sure you change the Workgroup name for the PC not able to browse network neighborhood to the same name as the main computer or server.

2) Make sure "file and printer sharing for microsoft networks" is installed in your network settings.

See if that solves it for you.

Pbxman
Systems Administrator

Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful.

 

[haslo]

No, sorry didn't - the computer that was started first has the (complete) neighbourhood but then is not able to resolve the names he just displayed into an IP address. The second computer booted (either one of them, but it's alway the second one that was booted) is not even able to display its own name. Seems pretty strange to me...

Workgroup and file and printer sharing were about the first thing i have double-checked... but thanks anyway... %-)

allow thyself to be the spark that lights the fire
haslo@haslo.ch - www.haslo.ch​