WINS Database Displays Hyphens Instead of NetBIOS Suffix

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51 and 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you view the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) database using WINS Manager, you may notice the sixteenth character representation of each NetBIOS name is a hyphen such as the following:

   <computer name> -   102.54.94.97

   <computer name>[00h]   102.54.94.97

CAUSE

WINS Manager is configured to display the database using LANManager Compatible conventions.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, enable the LANManager Compatible feature using the following steps:

1. In WINS Manager, click Options, and then click Preferences.

2. Click LAN Manager-Compatible, to enable the option.

3. Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

From the context-sensitive help in WINS Manager for Computer Names:

   Specifies whether computer names will adhere to the Lan Manager naming
   convention, where computer names are limited to 15 characters, as
   opposed to 16-character NETBIOS names used by other sources. In LAN
   Manager names, the 16th byte is used to indicate whether the device is a
   workstation, messenger, and so on.

   Select the LAN Manager Compatible check box if you want to use this
   convention. Note that WIndows NT follows the LAN Manager convention, so
   this check box should be selected unless your network accepts NetBIOS
   names from other sources.