Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS)
NetBIOS Name Server (NBNS)

WINS is really nothing more than a NetBIOS Name Server (NBNS).  A name server of any type always looks up a machine by name and returns the appropriate address of the machine using a specific protocol.   DNS or Domain Name Servers translate Internet names such as www.gamespot.com into Internet addresses such as 205.216.163.90 which routers can use to communicate with the desired machine.

As defined by Microsoft, Windows Internet Naming Service is part of the Microsoft Windows NT server which manages the workstation names and locations with IP addresses without the user or administrator having to be involved in each configuration change.  WINS automatically creates a computer name IP address mapping entry into a table, ensuring that the name is unique and not a duplicate of someone else's computer name.  When a computer is moved to another location, part of the IP address is likely to change.  Using WINS, the new subnet information will be updated automatically in the WINS table.   WINS complements the NT servers DHCP which negotiates an IP address for any computer when it is first defined on the network.

DHCP will automatically return appropriate WINS addresses for on-campus users.  Unfortunately these values will usually have to be hard-coded in machines dialing into Missouri State University.  This is only required if the user wishes to utilize the peer-to-peer networking, direct access to NT Server's disk space, or on-campus printers.  Current Dial-up IP Settings for these services are posted on our web.