I’m having a problem with NetBIOS name resolution on Windows 95. Here’s the situation:
1. NT DHCP server giving out the following configuration values:
a) IP address
b) Default Gateway
c) DNS server addresses
d) DNS domain name
e) WINS server addresses
2. Client configured to obtain an IP address automatically, DNS disabled (or enabled with only a host name specified, no domain name specified), and the “Use DHCP for WINS resolution” box checked in the WINS config.
The problem: Windows 95 will not resolve NetBIOS names using DNS. My NT servers are all entered into the DNS. WINS is used only to resolve group (i.e. NT domain) names. If I enter the (mycorp.com) domain name into the DNS config, NetBIOS names will resolve. I’m implementing DNS name resolution on approximately 5000 PCs, and I really want to avoid this. Due to a recent acquisition, the domain name may change in the near future and I don’t want to have to go back and touch each PC again.
More info: When I say NetBIOS names, I mean that if I try to map a drive using a UNC of \\server\sharename, or if I do something like “net view \\server” windows reports that the server is not found. However, if I “ping server”, the name is resolved and the server responds. Winipcfg reports all of the correct entries. The host name and the domain name are there. As long as I explicitly entable DNS and enter a host name the “NetBIOS resolution uses DNS” box is checked. If I leave DNS disabled thebox is not checked. Windows 98 behaves differently, correctly resolving NetBIOS names even though DNS is disabled. I have surfed the Microsoft support site and found no reference to this problem. I’ve installed winsock 2, the DUN 1.3 update, etc. Nothing seems to resolve this problem.
Any ideas?