Do I need a WINS server in a XP, W2K3 DC network?

[Guest SammyBar]

Hi all,

 

We have migrated our network from NT4 to W2K and recently to W2K3 Servers

Active Directory and at each step I ask myself: Do we really need a WINS

server at all? It is supposed the DNS server does the work. Nowadays our

network is comprised of XPs, a few W98 PCs which will be replaced in the

next weeks, a few W2K servers (non DC) and W2K3 DC servers. The AD was

raised to W2K3 level. Do I really need a WINS server?

 

Thanks in advance

Sammy

[Guest Meinolf Weber]

Re: Do I need a WINS server in a XP, W2K3 DC network?

 

Hello SammyBar,

 

If you have more then one subnet WINS is needed. Also some services like

Exchange relies on it for some operations.

 

Best regards

 

Meinolf Weber

Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers

no rights.

** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> Hi all,

>

> We have migrated our network from NT4 to W2K and recently to W2K3

> Servers Active Directory and at each step I ask myself: Do we really

> need a WINS server at all? It is supposed the DNS server does the

> work. Nowadays our network is comprised of XPs, a few W98 PCs which

> will be replaced in the next weeks, a few W2K servers (non DC) and

> W2K3 DC servers. The AD was raised to W2K3 level. Do I really need a

> WINS server?

>

> Thanks in advance

> Sammy

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Do I need a WINS server in a XP, W2K3 DC network?

 

Meinolf Weber <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote:

> Hello SammyBar,

>

> If you have more then one subnet WINS is needed. Also some services

> like Exchange relies on it for some operations.

 

......Also, if you want network browsing, you really need it. If you don't

care about browsing, you can usually get away with it - but then, you really

need to disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on all your NICs.

>

> Best regards

>

> Meinolf Weber

> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and

> confers no rights.

> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

>

>> Hi all,

>>

>> We have migrated our network from NT4 to W2K and recently to W2K3

>> Servers Active Directory and at each step I ask myself: Do we really

>> need a WINS server at all? It is supposed the DNS server does the

>> work. Nowadays our network is comprised of XPs, a few W98 PCs which

>> will be replaced in the next weeks, a few W2K servers (non DC) and

>> W2K3 DC servers. The AD was raised to W2K3 level. Do I really need a

>> WINS server?

>>

>> Thanks in advance

>> Sammy

[Guest SammyBar]

Re: Do I need a WINS server in a XP, W2K3 DC network?

 

>> If you have more then one subnet WINS is needed.

Yes!

>> Also some services like Exchange relies on it for some operations.

Yes!

> .....Also, if you want network browsing, you really need it.

Yes!

 

Now I sure I need it

Thanks for your advice guys....!

Sammy

[Guest Herb Martin]

Re: Do I need a WINS server in a XP, W2K3 DC network?

 

 

"SammyBar" <sammybar@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:%233xVvWtqIHA.4376@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi all,

>

> We have migrated our network from NT4 to W2K and recently to W2K3 Servers

> Active Directory and at each step I ask myself: Do we really need a WINS

> server at all? It is supposed the DNS server does the work. Nowadays our

> network is comprised of XPs, a few W98 PCs which will be replaced in the

> next weeks, a few W2K servers (non DC) and W2K3 DC servers. The AD was

> raised to W2K3 level. Do I really need a WINS server?

 

By now you know the answer is "yes" and some of the reasons;

here is the bottom line:

 

1) IF you have legacy systems or need the services provided by NetBIOS

legacy applications and OS features, then NetBIOS really needs to

be enabled on ALL internal computers.

 

2) IF you need NetBIOS, and have multiple internal subnets you need

(replicated) WINS Server(s), and EVERY computer (esp. DCs) needs

to be set as a WINS client.

 

 

For almost everyone the answer is still "yes" to NetBIOS and for

those with more than one subnet then the answer is "Yes to WINS

Server" too.