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What Is Name Resolution?

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Introduction to Name Resolution

Name resolution is a method of reconciling an IP address to a user friendly computer name. Originally networks used host files to resolve names to IP addresses. They came in the form of a text file that the computer accessed if name resolution was required. All the computers on the network and their IP address mappings had to be entered manually. The file was then copied to all the machines on the network. When a resource was required, by the user typing its name, the machine referred to the host file to find the IP address. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson

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This is the HOSTS file which is located inside the windows\system32\drivers\etc folder. A computer can still use the hosts file if needed. The LM host file was a windows specific version of the standard host file and enabled Microsofts NT LAN Manager to perform name resolution tasks The LMHOSTS file is located inside the windows\system32\drivers\etc With the advent of larger networks the text based hosts and lmhosts files became large, unwieldy and required too much maintenance. With the advent of dynamically assigned IP addresses, IP to name mappings took on a transient nature with the possibility of IP addresses changing on a weekly basis. The days of the host/lmhost files were numbered as the primary tool of name resolution.

NetBIOS
Microsoft developed a system for name resolution for small networks called NetBIOS where a broadcast with the required computer name was sent to all computers on the network segment. All the computers received
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What Is Name Resolution?

the request but only the named machine responded. This system was easy to use because it was selfconfiguring and required no maintenance. However with larger, routed networks NetBIOS fell down as the broadcast would not be passed by a router. Using NetBIOS broadcasts restricted a machine to resources on its own network segment. Microsoft developed the Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) to overcome this problem of broadcasts not being passed by routers. Every machine is given the IP address of a WINS server in its network properties. When the machine boots up it sends the WINS server its IP address along with its NetBIOS name.

WINS
The WINS server stores these entries in the wins.mdb database file. Name resolution queries are sent to the WINS server which then searches the wins.mdb, resolves the query and then sends the details back to the client. This removes the need of a NetBIOS broadcast Because the client can send the NetBIOS query directly to the WINS server and the WINS server sends the result direct to the client by IP address. The packets will also pass over a router.

NetBIOS
NetBIOS is still used to provide name resolution for certain applications and for workgroups that do not utilize the Domain Naming Service (DNS) covered next. NetBIOS allows network browsing via my network places, computers near me or Microsoft Windows Network. Any name to IP address mappings resolved by NetBIOS are stored on the local machine in a cache file to speed up access to that resource in the future. NetBIOS is enabled by default but can be disabled. This improves network security by removing the ability to view the contents of the network by browsing. The disadvantage of this is the inability to view the contents of the network by browsing and the fact that the network loses a backup name resolution service.

Comments
Introduction to Name Resolution 53 Comments

israel on February 17, 2014 at 8:56 am said:

i appreciate ur service.may God help and bless u.

hamde on February 12, 2014 at 7:08 pm said:

I am starting to learn the lesson by now. i am a beginner.

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What Is Name Resolution?

attaurrehman on February 12, 2014 at 3:49 pm said:

this is very interesting lesson for everyone

A.P.M.Hussain on February 8, 2014 at 8:13 pm said:

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Sheku C Johnny on February 6, 2014 at 12:40 pm said:

It is interesting to note all this. I will like to enroll in this course. thanks

Elijah Ikpeoha on February 5, 2014 at 6:35 pm said:

Great one keep it up

joseph samuel o, on February 5, 2014 at 4:06 pm said:

Very good and understandable i really appreciate.

Jonah on January 31, 2014 at 2:51 pm said:

i love the tips.. i did not know this till now.thanks

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What Is Name Resolution?

george freeman on January 30, 2014 at 6:45 pm said:

thanx for lectur me about new technolgy so i lik to be learn mor

Aklilu Elias on January 25, 2014 at 9:51 am said:

Interesting

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