KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q247559: Information About Primary and Secondary WINS Server Switch

Article: Q247559
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbtool
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes the algorithm used by Windows Internet Naming Service
(WINS) clients to switch back to the primary WINS server after registering with
a secondary WINS server.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If the primary WINS server is not available during a WINS client name
registration request, the WINS client may register with the secondary WINS
server. When this occurs, the output of the "ipconfig /all" (without the
quotation marks) command on the WINS client lists the original primary WINS
server as the secondary WINS server, and the original secondary WINS server as
the primary WINS server. Also, further name queries are sent to the secondary
WINS server.

The WINS client continues trying to contact its original primary WINS server for
another 60 minutes, at 10 minute intervals. Then, the WINS client stops trying
to register with the primary WINS server until the name registration reaches one
half of the Time to Live (TTL) value. Note that if the secondary WINS server
stops responding to name queries, the WINS client immediately tries to switch
back to the primary WINS server. If you then run the "nbtstat -RR" (without the
quotation marks) command on the WINS client, a name release is sent to both WINS
servers, and the TTL value is set to zero.

At this point, the WINS client follows the same registration procedure used when
a computer is started. It attempts to contact its original primary WINS server,
and follows the process described earlier in this article.

Additional query words: switchback

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv kbtool 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp5 kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTW400sp3 kbWinNTW400sp2 kbWinNTW400sp1 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp5 kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400sp3 kbWinNTS400sp2 kbWinNTS400sp1 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5
Issue type        : kbinfo

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.