WINS - Still needed?

Is there a definitive list of the services and operations that will no
longer work in Windows 2003 Server if WINS is not installed or configured?

I've heard that My Network browsing will fail, and so will any development
that doesn't use the FQDN to specifiy servers, especially if those servers
are not in the same AD domain.

Yes, browsing a segmented network will fail without WINS. The browser
service uses Netbios names and broadcasts. The only practical way for a
browse master to find another browse master in a different segment is
through WINS.

I doubt that you will ever see a definitive list. Anything that requires
Netbios names needs WINS. That includes heaps of third party drivers and
apps (like printers and anti-virus software).

Andrew Hayes wrote:
> Is there a definitive list of the services and operations that will no
> longer work in Windows 2003 Server if WINS is not installed or
> configured?
> I've heard that My Network browsing will fail, and so will any
> development that doesn't use the FQDN to specifiy servers, especially
> if those servers are not in the same AD domain.

In news:%(E-Mail Removed),
Bill Grant <not.available@online> stated, which I commented on below:
> Yes, browsing a segmented network will fail without WINS. The
> browser service uses Netbios names and broadcasts. The only practical
> way for a browse master to find another browse master in a different
> segment is through WINS.
>
> I doubt that you will ever see a definitive list. Anything that
> requires Netbios names needs WINS. That includes heaps of third party
> drivers and apps (like printers and anti-virus software).

Exchange too!

In news:%(E-Mail Removed),
Bill Grant <not.available@online> stated, which I commented on below:
> Yes, browsing a segmented network will fail without WINS. The
> browser service uses Netbios names and broadcasts. The only practical
> way for a browse master to find another browse master in a different
> segment is through WINS.
>
> I doubt that you will ever see a definitive list. Anything that
> requires Netbios names needs WINS. That includes heaps of third party
> drivers and apps (like printers and anti-virus software).
>

Oops. I was too fast with the key combos and sent the previous post too
quickly.

I want to add:

837391 - Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server require NetBIOS name
resolution for full functionality:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=837391

WINS is still required with both Exchange 2000 and 2003, from TechRepublic -
Downloads - TechRepublic:
http://downloads.techrepublic.com.co...x?docid=173171

I believe clustering requires NetBIOS too.

--
Ace
Innovative IT Concepts, Inc
Willow Grove, PA

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT, MVP
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services
Microsoft Certified Trainer

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It's easy:

How to Configure OEx for Internet News
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Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations
Assimilation Imminent. Resistance is Futile
"Very funny Scotty. Now, beam down my clothes."

The only constant in life is change...

Thanks Bill and Ace. Looks like I'm going to need to mess about with WINS
now.

In a multi-forest, multi-domain AD, where there are 2-ways trusts between
the forests/domains, do you recommend using a single pair of WINS servers?

Right now, all the servers have unique Netboais names (just in case I had to
use WINS), and since each domain has it's own DNS, and stubs for the other
domains, do I need to configure each DNS server to use the same WINS?

In news:%23JYE$(E-Mail Removed),
Andrew Hayes <(E-Mail Removed)> stated, which I
commented on below:
> Thanks Bill and Ace. Looks like I'm going to need to mess about with
> WINS now.
>
> In a multi-forest, multi-domain AD, where there are 2-ways trusts
> between the forests/domains, do you recommend using a single pair of
> WINS servers?
> Right now, all the servers have unique Netboais names (just in case I
> had to use WINS), and since each domain has it's own DNS, and stubs
> for the other domains, do I need to configure each DNS server to use
> the same WINS?

You don't really have to configure DNS to use WINS. The default resolution
process for Win2000 and newer will look at hostnames (DNS) first, then
NetBIOS last. You could create replication partners between the WINS servers
of the different forests/domains, but that of course requires the Domain
Admin groups of the other domain that WINS is installed in to be part of the
local administrators group of your domain and vice-versa in order to allow
them to be partners. This way your workstations and other machines only
point to your own local WINS, and vice-versa.

Keep in mind that WINS is just a distributed dynamic database of NetBIOS
names, IPs and NetBIOS services offered. Replication partners will ensure
that both WINS partners havea copy of each WINS database. If you have
multiple WINS servers, come up with a hub and spoke topology and not a mesh
topology or you may wind up with errors due to replication data cannot keep
up with changes (such as DHCP renewals and client registrations).


Ace