samba-mirror/source3/nameserv.doc

this module deals with general maintenance of NetBIOS names.

/*************************************************************************
  query_refresh_names()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for polling all names registered in the
WINS database. it is planned to enable this function should samba
detect an inconsistency on the network, which could occur if the
samba NetBIOS daemon dies and is restarted.

polling is done very infrequently, but all names will be covered
within a period NAME_POLL_REFRESH_TIME. a group of at most ten names
will be queried at once, at intervals of NAME_POLL_INTERVAL seconds.
if the total number of names queried in this way will take too long,
then the time that an individual name will next be polled is
increased accordingly.

name query polling is functionality over-and-above the normal
requirement (see rfc1001.txt 15.1.7 point 7). it is normally the
responsibility of the owner of a name to re-register the name at
regular intervals.


/*************************************************************************
  refresh_my_names()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for refreshing samba's names that have
been registered with other servers on a local subnet, or with another
WINS server if samba is using one.

samba's names' refresh_time will be updated through the use of the function
add_my_name_entry().


/*************************************************************************
  remove_my_names()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for removing all samba's SELF names. it
is used when samba receives a SIG_TERM. samba at present does not wait
for the WINS server to reply to the name releases sent out.


/*************************************************************************
  add_my_names()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for adding and registering if necessary all
samba's SELF names, on each of its local subnets and with another WINS
server if samba is using one.

/*************************************************************************
  add_my_name_entry()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for registering or re-registering one of
samba's names, either on the local subnet or with another WINS server
if samba is using one.

if the name is already in samba's database, then it is re-registered,
otherwise it is simply registered.

if the name is being registered in a WINS capacity (the subnet to which
the name should be added is the WINS pseudo-subnet) then we add the entry
immediately if samba is a WINS server. it uses name_register_work()
because if the name is being added as part of becoming a master browser,
we want to carry on that process. if the name is registered with another
WINS server, we must wait for an answer from that WINS server. either
name_register_work() or name_unregister_work() will be called as a result.

if the name is being registered on a local subnet, then it is
broadcast. an explicit rejection from another host will result
in name_unregister_work() being called. no response will, after
retrying, result in name_register_work() being called.

what ever method is used, the name will either be registered
or rejected, and what ever process was taking place (becoming
a master browser for example) will carry on.

expire_netbios_response_entries() is responsible for taking further
action if no response to the registration is received. 

note that there may be a large number of function calls on the
stack if become_master() is called and samba is configured as
a WINS server. the loop will be:

become_master(), add_my_name_entry(), name_register_work() and
back to become_master() with the new value of the workgroup
'state'.


/*************************************************************************
  remove_name_entry()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for removing a NetBIOS name. if the name
being removed is registered on a local subnet, a name release should be
broadcast on the local subnet.

if the name is being released in a WINS capacity (the subnet to
which the name should be added is the WINS pseudo-subnet) then we
remove the entry immediately if samba is a WINS server. it uses
name_unregister_work() because if the name is being added as part of
becoming a master browser, we want to terminate that process. if the
name is released from another WINS server, we must wait for an
answer from that WINS server. name_unregister_work() will 
definitely be called as a result, because at present we ignore
negative responses for a name release from a WINS server.

if the name is being releasedd on a local subnet, then it is
broadcast. name_unregister_work() will definitely be called
because we ignore negative name releases at present.

what ever method is used, the name will be released. (NOT TRUE!
see response_name_release())

expire_netbios_response_entries() is responsible for taking further action
if no response to the name release is received.


/*************************************************************************
  load_netbios_names()
  *************************************************************************/

this function is responsible for loading any NetBIOS names that samba,
in its WINS capacity, has written out to disk. all the relevant details
are recorded in this file, including the time-to-live. should the 
time left to live be small, the name is not added back in to samba's
WINS database.