My WINS clients have stopped registering/querying the WINS server.

John Savill

October 13, 1999

1 Min Read
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A. Tell-tail signs of clients that have stopped using WINS are asfollows:

  • Unable to ping a remote computer (across a router) by its computer name (NetBIOS name).

  • Cannot log on to a domain when the only domain controllers are on other side of routers.

  • Unable to perform Net View or Net Use computers that are on the other side of routers.

  • Cannot retrieve the browse list of a remote domain that the client sees in its local browse list.

A known problem exists when a secondary WINS is not defined as the algorithmis as follows

  1. When booting up, register your name with your primary WINS server. Or when performing a normal name query, first send the request to your primary WINS server.

  2. If the primary WINS server does not respond after 3 attempts, send your registration or query to the secondary WINS server listed.

  3. If the secondary WINS server does not respond after 3 attempts, send the query again to the primary WINS server, and continue alternating between primary and secondary WINS server until one of them responds.

The problem results if there is no secondary WINS server listed. The clientmay revert to B-Node (broadcast only) behavior and stops querying the WINSserver completely.

To fix this make sure you have a secondary WINS server defined. If you onlyhave one WINS server, list it in both the primary and secondary boxes.

Clients can be updated by starting the Network control panel applet, selectthe Protocols tab, select TCP/IP, select the WINS tab and fill in the boxes. Ifthe clients use DHCP ensure the scope if configured with both primary andsecondary.

About the Author

John Savill

John Savill

https://savilltech.net

See more from John Savill
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