TCP/IP in Windows 2000 Professional
This section provides an overview of the methods available for configuring TCP/IP name resolution on a Windows 2000 Professional– based client. It presents an explanation of each configuration method, including issues you might want to consider when implementing each method.
Choose name resolution method. Windows 2000 Professional provides four methods for resolving names to IP addresses:
Domain Name System (DNS) for applications and services that require host-to-IP name resolution, such as Active Directory
Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), for compatibility with applications and services that require NetBIOS-to-IP name resolution, such as browsing functions of previous versions of Windows
Hosts and Lmhosts files, which provide host-to-IP and NetBIOS-to-IP name resolution via manually-maintained local files; and b-node broadcasts, which can be used for NetBIOS name resolution within the local subnet.
Choose the methods that meet your environment and client requirements. See Overview of TCP/IP Name Resolution later in this chapter.
If DNS is used, configure settings. DNS is the default name resolution method for Windows 2000 – based clients, and is required for integration in a Windows 2000 Active Directory domain. To use this name resolution method, it must be properly configured. Use Table 22.3 to find information on the area of DNS you are configuring.
Table 22.3 DNS Configuration Topics
To configure this DNS setting |
refer to this section |
|---|---|
Configure client name |
Configuring Host and DNS Domain Names |
Configure primary DNS suffix |
Configuring Host and DNS Domain Names |
Configure connection-specific DNS suffix |
Configuring Host and DNS Domain Names |
Specify the addresses of available DNS servers |
Specifying DNS Servers |
Configure the way the DNS client resolves host names |
Configuring DNS Query Settings |
Optimize the local DNS cache |
DNS Performance and Security |
Prevent DNS client from accepting non-queried servers |
DNS Performance and Security |
Configure dynamic update, if used |
Configure Dynamic Update |
If Hosts file is used for host name resolution, edit file. For networks without access to a DNS name server, creation of a Hosts file can provide host name resolution for applications and services. This file can also be used in an environment where name servers are available, but not all hosts are registered; for example, a server that is not available for general use, but is only to be accessed by a limited number of clients. This file must be manually created and updated as host names and addresses change. See Configure Hosts File later in this chapter.
If WINS is used, configure settings. WINS provides name-to-IP resolution for applications and services using the NetBIOS command set for networks with a WINS server. If your network environment meets these requirements, the IP addresses of WINS servers needs to be configured on your Windows 2000 Professional– based client to provide NetBIOS name resolution. In a network where dynamic update is not available, a WINS server can provide a DNS server configured for WINS lookup with dynamic updates of host names, provided that WINS is enabled at each client. See Configure NetBIOS Name Resolution later in this chapter.
If Lmhosts file is used, modify file and configure settings. For networks without access to a WINS name server, creation of an Lmhosts file can provide NetBIOS name resolution for application and services. This file can also be used in an environment where name servers are available, but not all hosts are registered; for example, a server that is not available for general use, but is only to be accessed by a limited number of clients. This file must be manually created and updated as computer names and addresses change. See Configure NetBIOS Name Resolution later in this chapter.
If none of the above name resolution methods are enabled or successful in name resolution, local broadcasts are used. To resolve NetBIOS names within the local subnet, b-node , or broadcast name resolution, can be used to determine the IP address for a NetBIOS name. See Configure NetBIOS Name Resolution later in this chapter.