Siemens Unix V4.0 - Manual (Page 193)

Implementing WINS Name Resolution Services
Product Manual U7613-J-Z815-6-76
©
S
iem
e
n s N
ix
dor
f
In
fo
rm
at
io
n
s s y s te
m
e A
G
1
9 9 5
P
fad
: D:
\O
7 613
e6
\u
761
3e
.k
10
10.1 Name Resolution Services
Advanced Server WINS with TCP/IP requires a unique IP address and computer name for
each computer on the network. Although programs use IP addresses to connect
computers, administrators use “friendly” names to connect them. As a result, TCP/IP inter-
networks require a
name resolution service that converts computer names to IP addresses
and IP addresses to computer names.
An IP address is the unique address by which all other TCP/IP devices on the internetwork
recognize that computer. For TCP/IP and the Internet, the
computer name is the globally
known system name, plus a Domain Name System (DNS) domain name.
DNS computer names consist of two parts: a host name and a domain name, which
combined form the fully qualified domain name (FQDN).
In contrast, Advanced Server networking components rely on a naming convention known
as NetBIOS. In general, NetBIOS computer names consist of a single part. Although
NetBIOS names are compatible with DNS host names, both naming conventions should be
well distinguished.
On the local network, the computer name is the name that was supplied either during
Advanced Server or Windows NT setup. To ensure that both names and IP addresses are
unique, a computer using NetBIOS over TCP/IP registers its name and IP address on the
network during system startup.
A computer can use one or more of the following methods to ensure accurate NetBIOS
name resolution in TCP/IP internetworks:
● Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)
A computer can use WINS if at least one WINS server is available that contains a
dynamic database that maps computer names to IP addresses. WINS can be used in
conjunction with broadcast name resolution for an internetwork where other name
resolution methods are inadequate. As described in the following section, WINS is a
NetBIOS over TCP/IP mode of operation defined in RFC 1001/1002 as p-node.
● Broadcast name resolution
A computer also can use broadcast name resolution, which is a NetBIOS over TCP/IP
mode of operation defined in RFC 1001/1002 as b-node. This method relies on a
computer making IP-level broadcasts to register its name by announcing it on the
network. Each computer in the broadcast area is responsible for challenging attempts
to register a duplicate name and for responding to name queries for its registered name.