Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Wins

0 helpful
5 replies

by timothy.g.mcfadden

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
We have hub and spoke topology for our wins. We have two domain controllers in the main office with two BDC's in remote offices. We have one way trusts with domains outside our control. In order to create those trusts, we have added static entriesto our wins database. My question is, are we better off using lmhost files ratehr than the staic entries for our trusts for contingency purposes? If so, can we use wins for local desktops/servers and use the lmhost for the trusts only?

5 replies

by timwalsh

The problem with using LMHOSTS files is that they must exist on every computer. This means that any changes must also tke place on the LMHOSTS file on each computer.

With WINS, any changes take place only in the WINS database. WINS clients access whatever is the current version of that database.

by ian mclaws

Since the purpose of the LMHOSTS file would be only to support the trust, Yes....you can mix the two. The previous answer is correct in that you will have to update a copy of this file on all computers that need it, but since the only computers thatuse the trust are your domain controllers, you have only a few copies to maintain. Put the trust resolutions in the LMHOSTS file, marked with a #PRE to pre-load them into the NetBIOS name cache (added advantage - no network traffic for resolution asthis cache is checked first) and also use the #DOM tag to identify the entries as domain controllers. You can also add the internal WINS entry on all of your systems, including the DC's, as this will not interfere in any way with the function of your LMHOSTS or vice versa. Configured this way, the NetBIOS name cache handles trust resolutions, and the WINS handles all internal resolutions.

Good luck,

Ian

This discussion is closed to new replies.