TCP/IP Name Resolution using WINS.

There are four basic methods for resolving names using Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS). Most of the documentation is referenced in relationship to NT Server and NT Workstation. Windows 95 is suppose to use the same concepts for name resolution, but there are some differences.

About any method listed below will work on a local network. Things start to get tricky when routers get involved. Depending on if the domains are the same or different on each side of the router will effect which name resolution type is selected.

Four Methods:

1. WINS (p-node)
2. Broadcast Name Resolution (b-node)
3. LMHOSTS file
4. DNS

Name Resolution:

• b-node: Uses broadcasts to resolve the names. Broadcast restricted to local subnet.
• p-node: Point-to-point communications with a name server to resolve names.
• m-node: Uses b-node first, then p-node.
• h-node (hybrid): Uses p-node first then b-node.

B-node search order:

1. Check local NetBIOS cache.
2. Broadcast for name (3 boadcasts, 0.7 sec interval).
3. Check LMHOSTS file (things that were not pre-cached).
4. Check HOSTS file.
5. DNS (if enabled for such).

P-node search order:

1. Check local NetBIOS cache.
2. Search Primary WINS server.
3. Search Secondary WINS server. (If specified, this server can contain the same data as the Primary, or different data)
4. Check LMHOSTS file (things that were not pre-cached).
5. Check HOSTS file.
6. DNS (if enabled for such).

M-node search order:

1. Check local NetBIOS cache.
2. Broadcast for name (3 boadcasts, 0.7 sec interval).
3. Search Primary WINS server.
4. Search Secondary WINS server. (If specified, this server can contain the same data as the Primary, or different data)
5. Check LMHOSTS file (things that were not pre-cached).
6. Check HOSTS file.
7. DNS (if enabled for such).

H-node search order:

1. Check local NetBIOS cache.
2. Search Primary WINS server.
3. Search Secondary WINS server. (If specified, this server can contain the same data as the Primary, or different data)
4. Broadcast for name (3 boadcasts, 0.7 sec interval).
5. Check LMHOSTS file (things that were not pre-cached).
6. Check HOSTS file.
7. DNS (if enabled for such).

This information is based on the research I have compiled from several sources. If any mistakes are found, please contact me with the corrections.

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Please read the disclaimer.