john8217
asked on
Difference between DNS and WINS
What's the difference between DNS and WINS? It seems redundant to have both.
WINS also provides good support for browsing your corporate network, something that DNS does not tend to support. In Windows this means the "Network Neighbourhood" and so allows you to see shares, etc. Some of this has been superseded by Active Directory but many applications, administrators and users prefer the simple approach of browsing the Network Neighbourhood.
As an administrator, despite its quirks, I still tend to install WINS on at least two servers, as the role is otherwise implemented by the Computer Browser service on individual computers and this can cause far more problems than WINS.
As an administrator, despite its quirks, I still tend to install WINS on at least two servers, as the role is otherwise implemented by the Computer Browser service on individual computers and this can cause far more problems than WINS.
In the "is it redundant" vein, and when combined with the other two I believe answers your question fully.... DNS is certainly more useful for local static addressing (servers and infrastructure devices just as an example) and outside resources. Unless you're using AD-integrated DNS, or some other DHCP/DNS pairing, you won't find DNS a good fit for "non-reserved" DHCP subnets/systems. In a windows or mixed environment, WINS is useful along with DNS.... Not redundant.
--snip--
WINS DNS
+ Resolves NetBIOS names + Resolves host names to
to IP addresses. IP addresses
+ Only translates the + Can do a reverse lookup
NetBIOS name to the IP (IP address to host name)
address.
+ Registers client names + Must be manually configured
and IP addresses with the static names and
automatically as they IP addresses.
initialize.
+ Keeps all names in one + Keeps names in fully qualified
large flat name space domain name hierarchical
and only shares them structures that are recognized
with pre-configured and registered throughout the
replication partners. Internet.
+ Used primarily for + Used primarily on the Internet
Microsoft clients on and on intranets using TCP/IP
Microsoft networks. addressing/hosts.
+ Lets each client + Admins can create different
register their name aliases for the same host.
once.
+ Facilitates domain
related functions like
browsing and logging
on to domains.
--snip--
while DNS is a "internet" standard and protocol available on any platform anywhere, WINS is a proprietary protocol for some (most?) kinds of windows systems and mainly usable in a LAN only.
If you want to use the "internet" (for example in your browser) you most likely need DNS somewhere, somehow, while WINS is totally useless for that.
If you want to use the "internet" (for example in your browser) you most likely need DNS somewhere, somehow, while WINS is totally useless for that.
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The NetBEUI protocol is no longer used, in general, but the naming system still is. WINS can keep track of multiple subnets, and the WINS packets can use the TCP transport. It can help in multi-segment networks.
Unfortunately you'll need to investigate your supported applications and network switches to see if you really need them.
Best,
sl