Renewing names

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 8 Beta

Renewing names

Periodic name renewal is required for WINS client computers to renew their NetBIOS name registrations with the WINS server. The WINS server treats name renewal requests similarly to new name registrations.

When a client computer first registers with a WINS server, the WINS server returns a message with a Time-To-Live (TTL) value that indicates when the client registration expires or needs to be renewed. If renewal does not occur by that time, the name registration expires on the WINS server and the name entry is eventually removed from the WINS database. However, static WINS name entries do not expire, and therefore, do not need to be renewed in the WINS server database. For more information, see Using static mappings.

The default Renew interval for entries in the WINS database is six days. Renewal occurs every three days for most WINS clients because WINS clients attempt to renew their registrations when 50 percent of the TTL value has elapsed.

A name must be refreshed before this interval ends or it will be released. Names are refreshed by sending a name refresh request to the WINS server, as shown in the following figure.

It is the responsibility of the client (HOST-C) to refresh its name before the Renew interval expires. If the WINS server, WINS-A, does not respond to the refresh request, the client (HOST-C) can increase the rate at which it attempts to refresh its name.

Important

• In most cases, the default value is the appropriate Renew interval. You should always set the same Renew interval for all server replication partners whenever multiple WINS servers are used.

• Incorrectly adjusting the Renew interval can adversely affect system and network performance.