Workgroup work without WINS?

[iolair]

I have a small network using a Workgroup instead of AD and was wondering if I enabled DNS, could I remove WINS from the network? We are running TCP/IP, but I'd like to remove NetBIOS and WINS. Is it possible?

Thanks

Iolair MacWalter
Director of IT

 

[58sniper]

That depends, as some applications like WINS.

Pat Richard MVP

 

[TheMisio]

iolair,

If all of your machines are on a single subnet it should be OK.

Regards,

Michael

 

[iolair]

Thank you. Yes, all machines are on a single subnet. I'll test and see if any applications require WINS.

Thanks again.

Iolair MacWalter
Director of IT

 

[xmsre]

It's not WINS per se, it's that many applications have a dependency on netbios name resolution. If an application requires netbios name resolution, and you don't use WINS, then you'll be relying on broadcasts. Yes, you're on a single subnet so you don't have to worry about the broadcasts going across a router, however you'll still have to deal with all the computer browser election issues. Forced elections, rouge master browsers, just remembering all the issues is painful. WINS was introduced to solve those issues, you don't want to reintroduce them. If you have allications that rely on netbios name resolution, then use WINS. Don't rely on broadcasts...


Whew, I need a cold adult beverage ...

 

[iolair]

xmsre,
Do you know how much bandwidth WINS and NetBios consume? Are they as chatty as say, IPX/SPX?

Thanks.

Iolair MacWalter
Director of IT

 

[LawnBoy]

Netbios is a splatterfest. 27 different handshakes negotiating a protocol only to decide on the lowest common denominator every time. Just awful. Far worse than IPX in my opinion.



--
The stagehand's axiom: "Never lift what you can drag, never drag what you can roll, never roll what you can leave.

 

[xmsre]

Without WINS, netbios name resolution relies on broadcasts which can be very chatty. WINS registers then does directed lookups instead of broadcasts.