Continuing Need for WINS

If your network contains only computers running Windows 2000 or other TCP/IP-based systems that do not require the use of NetBIOS names (such as most versions of UNIX), your network no longer needs to use WINS. Instead, you should use Microsoft DNS service to resolve IP addresses.

However, many networks still include computers running Windows NT, Windows 98, and Windows 95. For these networks, WINS is needed to support earlier Windows and Microsoft TCP/IP clients. These networks will need WINS until all clients are migrated to Windows 2000.