Running WINS on Windows XP

[Keith Wheeler]

I have 2 small workgroups about 7 - 10 computers in 2 offices connected by 2
VPN/firewall/routers. I am having trouble browsing across the VPN by
computer name and have been advised I need a WINS server (or 2). I do not
have any Windows Servers, nor do I really want to incur that expense. Is
there any way to get WINS server to run on an XP machine? Or is there any
WINS server software (maybe not from Microsoft directly) that would run on
Windows XP? I have a couple PC's that are lightly used and could do double
duty.

Thanks.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Windows XP does not support WINS Server. And yes, in a subnetted network,
if you want workgroup browsing and such to work you will need a WINS server.

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[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have 2 small workgroups about 7 - 10 computers in 2 offices connected by 2
VPN/firewall/routers. I am having trouble browsing across the VPN by
computer name and have been advised I need a WINS server (or 2). I do not
have any Windows Servers, nor do I really want to incur that expense. Is
there any way to get WINS server to run on an XP machine? Or is there any
WINS server software (maybe not from Microsoft directly) that would run on
Windows XP? I have a couple PC's that are lightly used and could do double
duty.

Thanks.

Windows XP can't act as a WINS server -- that requires a server
operating system.

You can implement inter-subnet computer access, but not network
browsing, by:

1. Assigning every computer a static IP address.

2. Creating an LMHOSTS file on each computer that defines the names
and IP addresses of the computers on the other subnet.

3. Creating a static route on each computer that points to the local
VPN/firewall/router as the gateway to the other subnet.

After all that, you can access a computer on the other subnet by
typing that computer's name in the Start > Run box in this format:

\\computer
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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