WINS Server - 2003/XP network?

Hi

I have a Windows 2003/XP network with 800 PC's in a single subnet (pure IP). I'm still seeing a lot of broadcasts (according to a fluke meter). I'm using windows DNS but not WINS, would a WINS server help to resolve these broadcast issues?

Thanks for the advice.

There are always broadcasts, that is how Ethernet works. Even if you hook
two switches together all by themselves with no computers at all attached,
there would still be broadcasts between the switches.

During the day I guessing that about one fourth of the packets on an
Ethernet LAN are some type of broadcast. Late at night during "quiet" times
probably 80% or more of the traffic is broadcasts because very little
"directed" traffic is happening.

That is why Routers and subnetting are so important on a LAN because
broadcasts don't cross routers, so they limit the effect of it. But then the
routers introduce more broacasts of thier own due to CDP and routing
updates.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


"sw" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:C1398791-27F7-4C25-BECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I have a Windows 2003/XP network with 800 PC's in a single subnet (pure
IP). I'm still seeing a lot of broadcasts (according to a fluke meter). I'm
using windows DNS but not WINS, would a WINS server help to resolve these
broadcast issues?
>
> Thanks for the advice.

WINS would probably decrease it a bit, because the machines would be
using WINS for name resolution rather than broadcasts. But as Phillip said,
you will still have plenty of broadcasts with 800 machines on the same
segment!

"sw" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:C1398791-27F7-4C25-BECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I have a Windows 2003/XP network with 800 PC's in a single subnet (pure
IP). I'm still seeing a lot of broadcasts (according to a fluke meter). I'm
using windows DNS but not WINS, would a WINS server help to resolve these
broadcast issues?
>
> Thanks for the advice.

Note that if you segment your network with routers, you will need WINS.
Because routers block LAN broadcasts, you will need WINS for name resolution
across the router(s). You also need it to allow the browser service to work
across routers.

"Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> WINS would probably decrease it a bit, because the machines would be
> using WINS for name resolution rather than broadcasts. But as Phillip
said,
> you will still have plenty of broadcasts with 800 machines on the same
> segment!
>
> "sw" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:C1398791-27F7-4C25-BECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a Windows 2003/XP network with 800 PC's in a single subnet (pure
> IP). I'm still seeing a lot of broadcasts (according to a fluke meter).
I'm
> using windows DNS but not WINS, would a WINS server help to resolve these
> broadcast issues?
> >
> > Thanks for the advice.
>
>

Wow! 800 on one segment! I didn't even noticed that when I replied. It
would seem lucky to run at all to me. What is the recommended limit on one
LAN segment?...250 - 350?


--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


"Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> WINS would probably decrease it a bit, because the machines would be
> using WINS for name resolution rather than broadcasts. But as Phillip
said,
> you will still have plenty of broadcasts with 800 machines on the same
> segment!
>
> "sw" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:C1398791-27F7-4C25-BECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a Windows 2003/XP network with 800 PC's in a single subnet (pure
> IP). I'm still seeing a lot of broadcasts (according to a fluke meter).
I'm
> using windows DNS but not WINS, would a WINS server help to resolve these
> broadcast issues?
> >
> > Thanks for the advice.
>
>