How to Set Up Disaster Recovery for a Critical WINS Server

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1. Make sure there is a valid backup of your critical WINS server database. Also, save the WINS Partners registry key from the critical WINS server. This registry key contains the Push/Pull partner configuration. Save the Partners key from this registry location:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners

2. Install a backup WINS server that is running parallel with the critical WINS server.
3. Set up WINS replication between the critical WINS server and the backup WINS server.

If the critical WINS server stops working, use these steps:

1. Rename and change the IP address from the backup WINS server to match the critical WINS server.
2. Reboot the backup WINS server and stop the WINS service.
3. Restore the WINS Partners registry key from the critical WINS server to the backup WINS server's registry. Locate this key in the registry:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Wins\Partners

4. Click the Partners key, click Registry, and then click Restore.
5. Type the path where the file is located.
6. Start the WINS service on the Backup WINS server. At this point the backup WINS server will have the same replication partner configuration as the critical WINS server.
7. Force replication of the backup Wins server with all of its partners. At this point WINS will be fully functional.