Definition of WINS Record in Network Encyclopedia.
What is WINS record?
WINS record is a resource record within a zone file that identifies a host on the network as a WINS server on the network. WINS records are used in Microsoft Windows NT–based networks to enable Domain Name System (DNS) servers to refer name lookups to WINS servers. On Windows NT–based networks, WINS uses a dynamically updated database, while the DNS database is static and needs to be manually configured. DNS is thus harder to manage than WINS on Windows NT. So by configuring DNS to use WINS wherever possible, you simplify administration of name resolution on the network.
WINS records are specific to Microsoft’s implementation of DNS on Windows NT and are not used with the new dynamic update of Windows 2000 or in non–Microsoft Windows networks such as those using BIND running on UNIX servers.
