This section describes the various services that the SMB server interoperates with as a client.
The SMB server interoperates with a variety of naming services that are used by Windows and Oracle Solaris system networks. These naming services include the following:
Active Directory Service (AD). AD is a Windows directory service that is integrated with the Domain Name System (DNS). AD runs only on domain controllers. In addition to storing and making data available, AD protects network objects from unauthorized access and replicates objects across a network so that data is not lost if one domain controller fails.
DNS. DNS resolves host names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for the system. This service enables you to identify a server by its name.
Dynamic DNS (DDNS). DDNS is provided with AD and enables a client to dynamically update its entries in the DNS database.
UNIX Name Service. You must be running a working UNIX name service, such as local files or LDAP, to share files.
NTP. The NTP enables a client to automatically synchronize its system clock with a time server. The clock is synchronized each time the client is booted and any time it contacts the time server.
WINS. A WINS server resolves NetBIOS names to IP addresses, which enables computers on your network to locate other NetBIOS devices more quickly and efficiently. The WINS server runs on a Windows system. The WINS server performs a function similar to a DNS server for NetBIOS names. For more information, see How to Configure WINS.