What does WINS facilitate?

WINS, or Windows Internet Name Service, plays a crucial role in networking, specifically in the dynamic matching of NetBIOS names to IP addresses. It serves as a name resolution service that helps to translate user-friendly NetBIOS names into machine-readable IP addresses. This dynamic mapping is essential in environments where devices may frequently come online and offline, allowing for seamless communication without requiring manual IP address management.

By using WINS, systems can efficiently locate and communicate with each other based on these names. This service is particularly important in networks that utilize the NetBIOS protocol for communication, as it helps to maintain an up-to-date record of which NetBIOS names correspond to which IP addresses, thereby enhancing the overall functionality and connectivity of the network.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary functions of WINS. For instance, static IP assignments refer to a method of configuring devices with a fixed IP address, which WINS does not handle. File transfers and remote desktop connections are services that can be facilitated over a network but are independent of the naming resolution WINS provides.