Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)

• 3/23/2018
• 2 minutes to read
• Contributors
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Applies To: Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel), Windows Server 2016

Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) is a legacy computer name registration and resolution service that maps computer NetBIOS names to IP addresses.

If you do not already have WINS deployed on your network, do not deploy WINS - instead, deploy Domain Name System (DNS). DNS also provides computer name registration and resolution services, and includes many additional benefits over WINS, such as integration with Active Directory Domain Services.

For more information, see Domain Name System (DNS)

If you have already deployed WINS on your network, it is recommended that you deploy DNS and then decommission WINS.