WINS required?

[Guest]

Is WINS required to run a network? Do I really need it or can I just run a network without it?

 

[Ray at]

In theory, not if you're all W2K or above. In reality, you'll be using it
for years to come.

Ray at home

Is WINS required to run a network? Do I really need it or can I just run a

network without it?

 

[SaltPeter]

Is WINS required to run a network? Do I really need it or can I just run a

network without it?

Required? No. DNS name resolution is the resolution of choice.
Unfortuantely, many netbios based applications, including network
neighbourhood, still rely on Wins/netbios.

 

[XMan]

You can run a network without it - but you will get increased numbers of
packets as the individual PCs will broadcast if they can't resolve a name.

Mike

Is WINS required to run a network? Do I really need it or can I just run a

network without it?

 

[Adam]

If you are running a mixed-mode network of say WIN2K and
WIN98, then yes, you must run WINS. If you are running
WIN2K/XP, then yes, you can run without WINS. However,
there is several speedbumps (literally).

You can run your WIN2K/2K3 in 'native' mode, meaning it is
running only on your DNS server. However, the WIN2K
machines will then begin to do broadcasts (sends packents
out to say "you out there?" when a workstation needs
something) whenever it cannont locate a service, need a
new one, etc. If you have a large enough network, this can
start to have a drag on your performance level, since misc
packets, in addition to your normal traffic, is being run
through your network. Having WINS enabled reduces this
drag. Perhaps when Longhorn is released this probably will
be remedied with all WIN using DNS services. Until then,
keep the WINS on.