Windows NT Registry Parameters for WINS (135922)

SUMMARY

This article gives a list of configuration parameters for Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) for Windows NT versions 3.5 and 3.51 that can be modified through the Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE). Some of these parameters can also be configured through WINS Manager. Some of the given parameters are applicable only for Windows NT version 3.51.

WINS Registry Parameters

The Registry parameters for WINS servers are specified under the following key:

This key lists all the non-replication related parameters needed to configure a WINS server. It also contains a \Datafiles key, which lists all the files that should be read by WINS to initialize or reinitialize its local database.

BackupDirPath

Data Type : REG_SZ
Range : path name
Default : %SystemRoot%\system32\wins\backup

Specifies the path to the backup directory.

DbFileNm

Data Type : REG_EXPAND_SZ
Range : path name
Default : %SystemRoot%\system32\wins\wins.mdb

Specifies the full path name for the WINS database file.

DoBackupOnTerm

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0

Specifies that the database will be backed up automatically when the WINS service is stopped.

DoStaticDataInit

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0 (false. that is, the WINS server does not initialize its db)

If this parameter is set to a non-zero value, the WINS server will initialize its database with records listed in one or more files listed under the \Datafiles key. The initialization is done at process invocation and whenever a change is made to one or more values of the \Parameters or \Datafiles keys (unless the change is to change the value of DoStaticDataInit to 0).

InitTimePause

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0

Set to 1 to instruct WINS to remain in the paused state until the first replication. If set to 1, it is recommended that WINS\Partners\Pull \InitTimeReplication be either set to 1 or removed. Either method ensures that WINS replicates with its listed partners on starting. Paused state means that WINS will not accept any name registrations/releases until the above replication happens.

LogDetailedEvents

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0

Specifies whether logging events is verbose.

LoggingOn

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 1

Specifies whether logging of database changes to JET.LOG is turned on.

LogFilePath

Data Type : REG_SZ or REG_EXPAND_SZ
Range : Directory
Default : %SystemRoot%\System32\WINS

Specifies the directory for WINS log files.

MigrateOn

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0

Specifies that static unique and multihomed records in the database are treated as dynamic when they conflict with a new registration or replica.

McastIntvl

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range : The minimum allowable value is 2400 seconds (40 minutes)
Default : 2400 (seconds)

This parameter specifies the time interval (in seconds) at which the WINS server sends a multicast announcement to announce its presence to other WINS servers. Applicable only to Windows NT version 3.51.

McastTtl

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range : 1 - 0x22
Default value : 6

This parameter specifies the number of jumps across a router that a WINS multicast announcement can take. Applicable only to Windows NT version 3.51.

NoOfWrkThds

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 1 - 0x28
Default : Number of processors on the system

Specifies the number of worker threads (to handle name query packets from clients). This can be changed without restarting the WINS computer.

PriorityClassHigh

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0

Specifies the priority class of WINS. Set to 1 for high priority class. This can be changed without restarting the WINS computer.

Also, the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins \Parameters\Datafiles subkey lists one or more files that the WINS server should read to initialize or reinitialize its local database with static records. If the full path of the file is not listed, the directory of execution for the WINS server is assumed to contain the data file. The parameters can have any names (for example, DF1 or DF2). Their data types must be REG_SZ or REG_EXPAND_SZ.

The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners key has two subkeys, \Pull and \Push, under which are subkeys for the IP addresses of all push and pull partners, respectively, of the WINS server.

A push partner, listed under the \Partners\Pull key, is one from which a WINS server pulls replicas and from which it can expect update notification messages. The following parameter appears under the IP address for a specific push partner. This parameter can be set only by changing the value in Registry Editor:

OnlyDynRecs

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0

If set to 1, specifies that only dynamically registered records be replicated to WINS pulling replicas. The default setting of 0 means that all records (dynamic and static) be replicated.

RefreshInterval

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0x960 - 0x7fffffff
Default : 0x54600 (96 hrs)

Specifies how often a client registers its name. This can be configured through WINS Manager as Renewal Interval.

RplOnlyWCnfPnrs

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 1

If "RplOnlyWCnfPnrs" is set to TRUE, replication will be performed only with those partners that are listed under the Pull/Push key. If not set to TRUE, replication can be initiated even with unlisted partners as a result of administrative action or as a result of receiving an update notification.

TombStoneInterval

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0x12C0 - 0x7fffffff
Default : 0x54600 (96 hrs)

Specifies the interval between when an entry is marked as released and when it is marked as extinct. Same as Extinct Interval configured through WINS Manager. Must be at least two times the minimum Refresh Interval.

TombStoneTimeOut

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0x15180 - 0x7fffffff
Default : 0x54600 (96 hrs)

Specifies the interval between when an entry is marked extinct and when the entry is finally scavenged from the database. Same as Extinction Timeout configured through WINS Manager. The default is the same as the Refresh Interval or 24 hours whichever is higher.

UseSelfFndPnrs

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default value : 0

If this parameter is set to 1 and network routers support multicasting, the WINS server automatically finds other WINS servers on the network and configures them as push and pull partners. If the parameter is set to 1 and network routers do not support multicasting, the WINS server finds only those WINS servers that are on its own subnetwork. Only applicable to Windows NT version 3.51.

VerifyInterval

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range: 0x1FA400 - 0x7fffffff
Default: 0x1FA400 (576 hrs)

Specifies the interval after which the WINS server must verify that old names it does not own are still active. The default minimum is 576 hours (24 days) or 3 times TombStoneInterval whichever is higher.

VersCounterStartVal_LowWord

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range: 0 - 0x7fffffff
Default: 0

Specified the low DWORD of the highest version ID number for the database.

VersCounterStartVal_HighWord

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range: 0 - 0x7fffffff
Default: 0

Specifies the high DWORD of the highest version ID number for the database.

REGISTRY PARAMETERS FOR REPLICATION PARTNERS

Parameters for Push Partners include the following:

InitTimeReplication

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Push

Specifies whether this WINS server will inform pull partners of the database status when the system is initialized.

MemberPrec

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : None
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Push

Specifies the relative precedence of addresses in an Internet group (name with 16th byte being 0x1c). Addresses in the 0x1c names pulled from a WINS partner will be given the precedence assigned to the WINS. The value can be 0 (low) or 1 (high). The locally registered addresses always have a high precedence. Set this value to 1 if this WINS partner is serving a geographic location that is nearby.

RplOnAddressChg

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Push

Specifies whether this server will inform pull partners of the database status when an address changes in a mapping record.

UpdateCount

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0x14 - 0x7fffffff
Default : None
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Push

Specifies a number for how many updates are made to locally owned records in the database before partners are informed of changes.

Parameters for Pull Partners include the following:

CommRetryCount

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 - 0x7fffffff
Default : 3
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Pull

Specifies the number of times the server should attempt to connect with a partner for pulling replicas.

InitTimeReplication

Data type : REG_DWORD
Range : 0 or 1
Default : 0
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Pull

Specifies whether this WINS server pulls replicas from known partners whenever the system is initialized or whenever a replication related parameter is changed.

SpTime

Data Type : REG_SZ
Default : None
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Pull

Specifies the start time for replication. For SpTime, WINS replicates at the set time if it is in the future for that day. After that, it replicates every number of seconds specified by TimeInterval. If SpTime is in the past for that day, WINS replicates every number of seconds specified by TimeInterval, starting from the current time (if InitTimeReplication is set to 1).

TimeInterval

Data Type : REG_DWORD
Default : None
Path : ..\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners\Pull

Specifies the replication time interval.