WINS server - how is it supposed to work?

[Graham Leggett]

Hi all,

I have a couple of questions on the Samba WINS server which will
hopefully shed some light on a problem I am having.

I have a Linux 2.0.30 box running Samba v1.9.17p2, set as a WINS server
with "wins support = yes".

This WINS server sits on a box which is connected to two subnets via two
ethernet cards. This server is told to bind with these cards using the
"interfaces network/subnet network/subnet" keyword.

The problem is that machines on subnet B are only sometimes visible
(appear in the browse list) by Windows 95 machines on subnet A.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. (Find computer works 100%).

Now - I have looked inside the wins.dat and browse.dat files on my WINS
server, and have noticed a few things.

1)	Machines on subnet B do not appear in wins.dat. What is supposed to
be in wins.dat? What is this file used for?

2)	Some machines on subnet B DO appear in "browse.dat", as well as all
the Samba machines on subnet A, and our PDC on subnet A. What is
supposed to be in browse.dat? WHat is this file used for?

3)	Is there an "idiot's guide to WINS" around anywhere that will explain
how to put a browse list together that works all the time?

Regards,
Graham  
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