is Wins necessary?
I've been trying to find out if WINS is required for Exchange 2003. The research I did I find a lot of conflicting information. Yes, and then NO, but then WINS is required for Outlook, etc. I'm getting ready to replace one of my domain controllers that currently is a WINS server and wondering if I need to reinstall WINS for my existing Exchange to work correctly. If WINS is required should WINS be install on both domain controllers? As of now I only have WINS installed on one.Any wisdom would be great.
April 16th, 2009 8:31am

Yes, certain functionality depends and it is recommended to use NetBIOS name resolution. Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server require NetBIOS name resolution for full functionality http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837391 Amit Tank | MVP - Exchange | MCITP:EMA MCSA:M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com
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April 16th, 2009 9:00am

That was one of the KB's I found however what does Microsoft consider a "large" network? One that spans multiple domains? Multiple subnets? Does this apply to a single forst, single domain, with only one subnet? Quote from the article "Although Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 use FQDNs and DNS for name resolution, Windows NT 4.0 and Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 use NetBIOS and WINS for host name resolution. If the computer does not have a LMHOSTS file, there must be a WINS server available for the Exchange 5.5 computer to communicate with the Exchange 2003 computer.Many programs may work with NetBIOS disabled but do not support this type of configuration. For example, Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2000 were not tested without NetBIOS, but they may work without NetBIOS in a flat domain environment."Is it good practice to go ahead and install WINS even in a small network?If there are two domain controllers should each controller have WINS installed?
April 16th, 2009 9:17am

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