ServersBack To Basics: WINS Replication Networks, Part 2

Back To Basics: WINS Replication Networks, Part 2

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Thomas Shinder

In part one of this two part article, we discussed the function of WINS on a
Microsoft network, and how NetBIOS applications are dependent on NetBIOS names
as a logical endpoint for network communications. We also discussed the nature
of the WINS database itself, and noted that it is a distributed database. The
distributed WINS database was compared to other distributed databases with which
we work on Microsoft networks. Examples of other distributed databases are the
Active Directory, the DNS and the Browse List.

In part one of this two part article, we discussed the function of WINS on a Microsoft network, and how NetBIOS applications are dependent on NetBIOS names as a logical endpoint for network communications. We also discussed the nature of the WINS database itself, and noted that it is a distributed database. The distributed WINS database was compared to other distributed databases with which we work on Microsoft networks. Examples of other distributed databases are the Active Directory, the DNS and the Browse List.

In this second part of the article, we cover the details of designing and
configuring a WINS Replication network. When planning the network design, you
need to take into consideration issues of network traffic and database
convergence time. WINS database replication traffic within a WAN environment
should not be much of an issue, but when you deal with relatively slow WAN
links, replication may become an important consideration. You’ll also need to
plan the placement and replication partnerships differently in a LAN versus WAN
environment.

If you learned about WINS from the Microsoft official curriculum in the
Windows NT 4.0 track, you will need to brush up on how the WINS Server service
and the WINS database behave. There’s a lot to know about WINS that
wasn’t included in the Microsoft texts. You’ll do yourself, and your network
a lot of good by getting a fuller understanding of how WINS integrates not only
in your legacy Windows NT 4.0 networks, but also in Windows 2000.

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