Why would anybody still be using WINS?

[GlenJohnson]

Working for a major company that is leasing equipment that is still using WINS. No big deal, just wondering why anybody would still be using it. Thoughts folks?

Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin

 

[itsp1965]

Well Glen as you haven't described what your environment consists of, the only reasons why you would still do are;

- Legacy apps that rely purely on the NetBIOS protocol
- Older clients/servers on your network (anything pre Win2K)
- Still using NT4 domains

Other than that don't really see the reason for it.

 

[UltraZero]

Question. I'm not familiar with Windows current products, but the above is true.

So. without WINS, how do are you suppose to get around a Windows environment these days.
How are you suppose to locate servers located on different networks without
WINS???

Thanks

 

[itsp1965]

Everything after Windows 2000 relies solely on DNS for name resolution. Although it still relies on NetBIOS over IP for services like share access (WINS can help this along but it's no longer required). In Windows 2008 there is a DNS zone called Globalnames which is designed to replace WINS for NetBIOS name resolution (haven't used it myself)

 

[Roadki11]

I seem to think I remember WINS being "required" or at least recommended for Exchange 2k and 2k3 but its been so long ago I dont know if I remember that or if I'm just making it up.


RoadKi11

"This apparent fear reaction is typical, rather than try to solve technical problems technically, policy solutions are often chosen." - Fred Cohen