Migrating WINS to Windows Server 2003

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

  1. Before migrating from legacy WINS servers, make sure your existing WINS infrastructure is appropriate for your current needs. For example, if you have recently upgraded most desktop computers in your organization to Windows 2000 or Windows XP, or if you have recently stopped using an application that relies heavily on WINS, your current WINS structure might be too robust for your current needs, and might not be structured in the most efficient way possible. In a case such as this, start the deployment from the design phase, rather than migrating the existing database to new servers.

  2. Follow these steps when migrating your WINS database from Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003:

  3. Install the WINS service.

    This can be installed either during or after installing Windows Server 2003.

  4. Configure the WINS service.

    Verify that the server is pointing to itself for WINS. You can do this by viewing the TCP/IP properties of your network adapter.

  5. Convert the WINS database for use on the Windows Server 2003–based server.

    This conversion might occur automatically from existing Windows NT 4.0–based or Windows 2000–based servers. If not, follow these steps:

    1. At the command prompt, type net stop wins on both the existing and new servers.

    2. Copy the contents of the %SystemRoot%\System32\Wins folder from the existing server to the new Windows Server 2003–based server.

    3. At the command prompt, type net start wins on both servers.

      Note

This process can take 30 minutes or more to complete depending on the size of the database. Do not stop the process until it is finished. It is normal for Jetconv.exe to require heavy CPU usage during the conversion.

During the conversion process, you might be prompted for additional files from the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD.

To access WINS conversion files

  1. Copy the Edb500.dl_ file from the I386 folder on the CD-ROM to the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder on the server.

  2. At the command prompt, type expand edb500.dl_ edb500.dll to expand the Edb500.dl_ file on the server.

  3. At the command prompt, type net start wins to finish the conversion process.

  4. Verify that the WINS database is shown in the WINS snap-in on the server.