[Samba] Re: multiple wins server entries

[Kevin Long]

>> Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 14:32:25 -0500
>> From: "Christopher R. Hertel" <crh at ubiqx.mn.org>
>> Subject: [Samba] Re: multiple wins server entries
>>
>> If the WINS servers are not synchronized, then you won't get valid
results 
>> if you query a second WINS server if the first one fails.  That's the 
>> problem with disjoint name spaces.
>>
>> If they *are* synced... then who knows what garblage the broken WINS
>> server would be sending to the backups.  Again, there is no way of
knowing 
>> if you are getting correct answers since the authoritative source is 
>> messed up.
>> 
>> The only other way that this would work is to have all clients use two 
>> separate (unsynced) WINS servers.  Each client would register with each 
>> server, so the servers would have the same data even though they are not 
>> synchronizing with one another.  The problems in this case are:
>> 
>> 1) How would you convince all of the clients to behave that way?  They're

>>    all different.
>> 2) If one server goes goofy, how do you know which one is right?
>> 
>> Chris -)-----

All valid questions, except that in a Windows only network, with more than
one
WINS box, you might get some flakiness if one of the WINS units goes down
but you won't lose the ability to connect to shares with 100% certainty.
(broadcast is a poor substitute for WINS, and no substitute at all when
working
with other subnets).

Kevin Long.