Choosing whether to configure another WINS server as a push partner or pull partner depends on several considerations, including the specific configuration of servers at your site, whether the partner is across a wide area network (WAN), and how important it is to distribute changes throughout the network.
Only one computer configured as a WINS proxy should be installed on each subnet. (Configuring more than one WINS proxy per subnet can overload the WINS servers on the same subnet.)
In one possible configuration, one WINS server can be designated as the central server, and all other WINS servers can be configured as both push partner and pull partner of this central server. Such a configuration ensures that the WINS database on each server contains addresses for every node on the WAN.
Another option is to set up a chain of WINS servers, where each server is both the push partner and pull partner with a nearby WINS server. In such a configuration, the two servers at the ends of the chain would be push and pull partners with each other. Other replication partners can be established for your site’s needs.
Advanced Server WINS is installed along with the Advanced Server software. You can start and stop the WINS server manually from the Advanced Server command prompt by using the net start wins and net stop wins commands. You also can start and stop Advanced Server WINS remotely using the Services dialog box in Server Manager.
Additional WINS administration can be performed using WINS Manager, as described in the next section.
Before setting up a WINS server, ensure that you have installed a version of NetBIOS/TCP that supports Advanced Server WINS. Consult your release notes for details.
Before you install WINS Manager, be sure that you have a connected Windows NT Workstation computer from which to administer WINS.