Administering WINS Servers

When you install a WINS server, an icon for WINS Manager is added to the Network Administration group in Program Manager. You can use this tool to view and change parameters for any WINS server on the internetwork. To administer a WINS server remotely, you can run WINS Manager on a Windows NT Server computer that is not a WINS server.

You can also administer a WINS server remotely using SNMP. When you do so, if some WINS queries from SNMP work and others time out, you should increase the timeout on the SNMP tool you are using.

You must be logged on as a member of the Administrators group for a WINS server to configure that server.

To start WINS Manager

Double-click the WINS Manager icon in Program Manager.

– Or –

At the command prompt, type the start winsadmn command, and then press Enter.

You can include a WINS server name or IP address with the command, for example, start winsadmn 11.103.41.12 or start winsadmn myserver.

If the Windows Internet Name Service is running on the local computer, that WINS server is opened automatically for administration. If the Windows Internet Name Service is not running when you start WINS, the Add WINS Server dialog box appears, as described in the following procedure.

Note If you specify an IP address when connecting to a WINS server, the connection is made using the TCP/IP protocol. If you specify a computer name, the connection is made over NetBIOS. The list that appears in the WINS Server window shows the IP address first if you connected using TCP/IP, or the computer name first, if the connection was made over NetBIOS.

To connect to a WINS server for administration

In the WINS Manager window, select a server in the WINS Servers list.

This list contains all WINS servers that you previously connected to or that have been reported by partners of this WINS server.

To connect to a server to which you have not previously been connected

Choose the Add WINS Server command from the Server menu to display the Add WINS Server dialog box.

In the WINS Server box, type the IP address or computer name of the WINS server you want to work with, and then choose the OK button.

Note You do not have to include double backslashes (\\)before the name. WINS Manager adds these for you.

The title bar in the WINS Manager window shows the IP address or computer name for the currently selected server, depending on whether you used the address or name to connect to the server. WINS Manager also shows some basic statistics for the selected server, as described in the following table. Additional statistics can be displayed by choosing the Detailed Information command from the Server menu.

Table 14.1 Statistics in WINS Manager

Statistic	Description
Database Initialized	The last time static mappings were imported into the WINS database.
Statistics Cleared	The time when statistics for the WINS server were last cleared with the Clear Statistics command from the View menu.
Last Replication Times	The times at which the WINS database was last replicated.
Periodic	The last time the WINS database was replicated based on the replication interval specified in the Preferences dialog box.
Admin Trigger	The last time the WINS database was replicated because the administrator chose the Replicate Now button in the Replication Partners dialog box.
Net Update	The last time the WINS database was replicated as a result of a network request, which is a push notification message that requests propagation.
Total Queries Received	The number of name query request messages received by this WINS server. Successful indicates how many names were successfully matched in the database, and Failed indicates how many names this WINS server could not resolve.
Total Releases	The number of messages received that indicate a NetBIOS application has shut itself down. Successful indicates how many names were successfully released, and Failed indicates how many names this WINS server could not release.
Total Registrations	The number of messages received that indicate name registrations for clients.

To refresh the statistical display in WINS Manager

From the View menu, choose the Refresh Statistics command (or press F5).

– Or –

From the View menu, choose the Clear Statistics command to reset all statistical counters.

– Or–

Use automatic screen refreshing, based on the interval you specify in the Preferences dialog box, as described in "Setting Preferences for WINS Manager" later in this chapter.

To see information about the current WINS server

From the Server menu, choose the Detailed Information command.

The Detailed Information dialog box shows information about the selected WINS server, as described in the table below.

To close the Detail Information dialog box, choose the Close button.

Table 14.2 Detailed Information Statistics for WINS Manager

Statistic	Meaning
Last Address Change	Indicates the time at which the last WINS database change was replicated.
Last Scavenging Times	Indicates the last times that the database was cleaned for specific types of entries. (For information about database scavenging, see "Managing the WINS Database" later in this chapter.
Periodic	Indicates when the database was cleaned based on the renewal interval specified in the WINS Server Configuration dialog box.
Admin Trigger	Indicates when the database was last cleaned because the administrator chose the Initiate Scavenging command.
Extinction	Indicates when the database was last cleaned based on the Extinction interval specified in the WINS Server Configuration dialog box.
Verification	Indicates when the database was last cleaned based on the Verify interval specified in the WINS Server Configuration dialog box.
Unique Registrations	Indicates the number of name registration requests that have been accepted by this WINS server.
Unique Conflicts	The number of conflicts encountered during registration of unique names owned by this WINS server.
Unique Renewals	The number of renewals received for unique names.
Group Registrations	The number of registration requests for groups that have been accepted by this WINS server. For information about groups, see "Managing Special Names" later in this chapter.
Group Conflicts	The number of conflicts encountered during registration of group names.
Group Renewals	The number of renewals received for group names.

For descriptions of the related intervals, see "Configuring WINS Servers" later in this chapter.