WINS Needed in 2000/2003 Domain?

The network I inherited a few years ago consisted of 6 NT
4.0 servers and 15 95 and 98 clients. We use static IP
addresses, and WINS was never configured. I have been
slowly replacing servers, and we will end up with a 2000
DC/DNS server, a 2003 Exchange/Web server, and a
2000 ISA server running in native mode, along with a
couple NT 4.0 member servers and 15 2000 and XP clients.

Do I need to set up WINS? I think the answer is if I
didn't need it before I don't need it now, but have heard
the NT 4.0 servers cause a lot of broadcast traffic if
they can't find a WINS server.

Thanks!
Jim Burns

Please ignore this re-post. Doug Sherman already answered
my question. It's Friday, but I have my head up my arse
like it's Monday morning.

Jim

>-----Original Message-----
>The network I inherited a few years ago consisted of 6 NT
>4.0 servers and 15 95 and 98 clients. We use static IP
>addresses, and WINS was never configured. I have been
>slowly replacing servers, and we will end up with a 2000
>DC/DNS server, a 2003 Exchange/Web server, and a
>2000 ISA server running in native mode, along with a
>couple NT 4.0 member servers and 15 2000 and XP clients.
>
>Do I need to set up WINS? I think the answer is if I
>didn't need it before I don't need it now, but have heard
>the NT 4.0 servers cause a lot of broadcast traffic if
>they can't find a WINS server.
>
>Thanks!
>Jim Burns
>
>.
>

You need Wins if you are to set up any pre Win2K system on a domain. Reason is they communicate with a protocol called NetBT or NetBios over TCP/IP. The reason you found it was not configured before was probably that a kind of manual NetBT IP address resolution through LMHOSTS files on the systems was in use and this solution will not be feasible if you may at any time in the future expand your network as it would be too much work on the Net Admin. Until you are able to shut down and dispose of the last pre-Win2K machine, I advise you keep WINS configured for your network
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