WINS Response to Group Name Query is Limited Broadcast Address

 Last reviewed: August 26, 1996
Article ID: Q130232
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

If a NetBIOS application registers a group name with Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS), it receives a positive response. However, WINS does not store a list of addresses registering a group name. It responds to a name query on a group name with the limited broadcast address (255.255.255.255). This may make it impossible for a client application to discover a server application on the network if it uses group names and is separated by a router.

WINS was designed to perform this way, with one exception; NetBIOS names ending in [1C]. Windows NT Domain Controllers register the <domain>[1C] name with WINS, and a list of addresses is returned if a name query on a domain name is sent.

KBCategory: kbnetwork
KBSubcategory: ntnetserv
Additional reference words: 3.50 prodnt

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Last reviewed: August 26, 1996
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