IP resolution
Name resolution: given a TCP/IP name how to know its corresponding IP number.
Alternatives
- HOSTS file: an ASCII list of host names and IP numbers,
- IP broadcast: workstation asks for IP number (resolution)
- LMHOSTS file: does all HOSTS do plus include part of the table from central location, identify DC, Domain, etc. Both at \%system root%\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc
- DNS: a data base containing zone, cache, reverse lookup, and arpa-127 files (resource records), located at \%system root%\Windows\System32\Dns directory, DHCP updates DNS in Windows 2000 on (not in NT).
- WINS: uses a replicated data base with computer names and IP numbers, dynamic, interacting with DHCP.