HOW TO: Migrate a WINS Database from Windows NT 4 Server to Windows 2000 Server

This step-by-step article describes how to install and configure Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) in Windows 2000 Server and how to migrate a WINS database from Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows 2000 Server. By doing so, the Windows 2000 Server-based computer assumes the role of the WINS server and maintains the WINS database that Windows NT Server 4.0 previously held.

You can install WINS on either a member server or a domain controller. Microsoft highly recommends that the server has a single network card and is configured with a static IP address.

Install WINS

To install the WINS on an existing Windows 2000 Server-based computer:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components. The Windows Components Wizard starts.
3. In the Components list, click Networking Services (but do not click to clear the check box), and then click Details.
4. In the Networking Services dialog box, click to select the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) check box and then click OK.
5. Click Next. When you are prompted, insert the Windows 2000 Server CD into the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then click OK.
6. When Setup is complete, click Finish, and then click Close.

Configure TCP/IP to Use WINS

To configure TCP/IP to use WINS:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections.
3. Right-click the network connection that you want to configure (for example, Local Area Connection), and then click Properties.
4. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (but do not click to clear the check box), and then click Properties.
5. Click Advanced, click the WINS tab, and then click Add.
6. In the WINS server box, type the IP address of the server, and then click Add.
7. Click OK, click OK, and then click OK again.

Add the WINS Server to the WINS Snap-in

To add a WINS server to the WINS snap-in:

Note: If the console tree already lists the WINS server that you want to manage, you do not have to follow this procedure to add the WINS server to the WINS snap-in:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click WINS. The WINS snap-in opens.
2. On the Action menu, click Add Server.
3. In the WINS server box, type the NETBIOS name or the IP address of the WINS server, and then click OK.

Move the WINS Database from Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows 2000 Server

To move the WINS database from the Windows NT 4.0 Server computer to the Window 2000 Server computer:

1. Stop the WINS server on the Windows NT 4.0 Server computer. To do so:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
   3. At the command prompt, type net stop wins, and then press ENTER.
   4. Type exit, and then press ENTER to quit the command prompt.
2. Stop the WINS server on the Windows 2000 Server computer. To do so:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
   3. At the command prompt, type net stop wins, and then press ENTER.
   4. Type exit, and then press ENTER to quit the command prompt.
3. Copy the contents of the Winnt\System32\Wins folder on the Windows NT 4.0 Server computer to the Winnt\System32\Wins folder on the Windows 2000 Server computer. To do so:
   1. On the Windows NT 4.0 Server computer, start Windows Explorer.
   2. Locate the Winnt\System32\Wins folder.
   3. Copy the contents of the folder that you located in step 3b to the Winnt\System32\Wins folder on the Windows 2000 Server computer.
4. On the Windows 2000 Server computer, verify that the Winnt\System32 folder contains a copy of the Edb500.dll file.
   
   If it does not, copy the Edb500.dll file from the Winnt\System32\Dllcache folder to the Winnt\System32 folder. To do so:
   1. Start Windows Explorer and locate the Winnt\System32\Dllcache folder.
   2. Right-click the Edb500.dll file, and then click Copy.
   3. Locate the Winnt\System32 folder.
   4. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
5. Start the WINS server. To do so:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
   3. At the command prompt, type net start wins, and then press ENTER.
      
      You receive a message that the WINS service cannot start. After that, the database is converted.
   4. Type exit, and then press ENTER to quit the command prompt.
6. Verify the consistency of the WINS database. To do so:
   1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click WINS. The WINS snap-in opens.
   2. In the console tree, right-click the WINS server, and then click Verify Database Consistency.
   3. When you are prompted, click Yes to start the consistency verification operation.
      
      Note: Consistency verification can use a lot of resources when there is a large number of names or a large number of WINS servers. You may want to perform this operation during off-peak hours to minimize the effect on your WINS servers and network.

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