WINS Proxy

Clients that do not support WINS may resolve NetBIOS names using a broadcast. For routed IP networks, this method of name resolution becomes difficult if not impossible all together. In these situations, you can configure what is known as a WINS proxy agent.

A WINS proxy is a computer on a local subnet that listens for name resolution broadcasts. After the WINS server receives a broadcast, it queries the WINS server on behalf of the non-WINS client and returns the results. In terms of NetBIOS name registration, the WINS proxy also listens for name registration broadcasts on the local subnet. When a non-WINS client attempts to register its NetBIOS name, the WINS proxy queries the WINS server to ensure that the name has not already been registered by another host.

To configure a computer to act as a WINS proxy, you must edit the local Registry. To do so, navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\ services\netbt\parameters

and change the value for the EnableProxy to 1.

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For Win95,98,ME:

Registry Settings

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\MSTCP] Value Name: EnableProxy Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value) Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)