Siemens V4.0 manual Names.cfg file, Windows Internet Name Service Wins

Configuring Advanced Server for UNIX Configuring NetBIOS

names.cfg file

On Advanced Server for UNIX computers, a names.cfg file (residing in /var/opt/nbrfc/conf) can be used to specify static mappings of NetBIOS names to IP addresses. These mappings can be loaded into an internal name table. If a b-node attempt fails, the system looks in this name table to find a name and then uses the associated address to cross the router. The function of the names.cfg file is comparable to the LMHOSTS file known from the Microsoft networking components, however the format differs.

Files with static mappings, like LMHOSTS or names.cfg files, allow NetBIOS name resolution to span routers, thus solving the problem of b-node name resolution in routed environ- ments. However, each computer must have the necessary list of static mappings, and all lists must be consistent. This creates an administrative burden in maintaining and distrib- uting the lists.

Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)

A computer can use WINS if at least one WINS server is available that contains a dynamic database that maps computer names to IP addresses. WINS can be used in conjunction with broadcast name resolution for an internetwork where other name resolution methods are inadequate. As described in chapter “Implementing WINS” , WINS is a NetBIOS over TCP/IP mode of operation defined in RFC 1001/1002 as p-node. When configured as a WINS client, Advanced Server computers use a variant of p-node known as h-node.

WINS is designed to solve the problems that occur with name resolution in medium sized and complex internetworks and is the preferred method for name resolution. For details on the WINS service, consult the chapter “Implementing WINS” .

An Advanced Server for UNIX computer never uses DNS (the Internet Domain Name Service) for NetBIOS name resolution purposes.

All name resolution methods depicted above can be combined with each other. How name resolution is handled on an Advanced Server for UNIX computer is explained in more detail in “Configuring NetBIOS Name Resolution” .

Product Manual U7613-J-Z815-6-76