JSI Tip 2450. Reducing the WINS client refresh interval to a Windows NT 4.0 WINS Server.

In an environment were a DOD router is used to contact a Windows NT 4.0 WINS server, it is generally desirable to reduce the frequency of contact.

When a WINS client start it sends a name registration request to the WINS server at 1/8 the InitialRefreshTimeout, which defaults to 960,000 milliseconds (16 minutes), so the initial registration is in 2 minutes.

You can reduce the traffic by adding a static entry for the client in WINS and by setting the InitialRefreshTimeout to a larger value.

For WinNT clients, use Regedt32 to navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesNetBtParameters

Edit or Add Value name InitialRefreshTimeout, as a REG_DWORD data type. Using the DWORD Editor, set the data value using the proper Radix. The minimum data value is960,000 milliseconds (Decimal) and the maximum data value is 0xffffffff (Hex), 1/8 of which is ~50 days.

For Win9x clients, set InitialRefreshTimeout at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesVxDMSTCP.