Networking Bible

Chapter 19. Name Resolution Services

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Why mapping is needed

• Using a HOSTS file on a local system

• Using WINS for NetBIOS name resolution

• DNS and its importance on the Internet

• Name resolution versus directory services

Nameservers are a collection of networking services that translate a machine or network address into a "friendly" or readable name. When you open a Network folder on your computer and browse the network, the name service polls the systems on the network for their availability and returns their names and related information. A name service is central to the successful operation of your network. Without a functioning nameserver, your network may only display your computer's information.

There are many different name services in use. The Internet relies on the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol to translate IP addresses, such as 170.149.173.130 into nytimes.com.

While DNS is the most widely used name service, there are many other name services that are in current use. This chapter describes the simplest method, and one of the earliest, for name resolution — the HOSTS file. With the HOSTS file, your system can perform a lookup on a listing of systems that are known, even if your automated name service fails.

Windows networks use the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) to enumerate systems using the NetBIOS protocol. This system can provide high performance on Windows networks and is commonly used.

DNS can be set up to run on a LAN and provide a name service for systems ...