Summary

NetBIOS is the foundation protocol of Microsoft Networking. Microsoft Networking uses the NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI), which combines NetBIOS, Service Message Block (SMB), and NetBIOS Frame (NBF) protocols. Because NetBEUI cannot be routed between networks and relies on the broadcast capabilities of the underlying physical network, it is adequate only for small, local area network application.

NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) was developed to run NetBIOS applications over a wide area network. A fundamental part of NetBT is the mapping of NetBIOS names to IP addresses. In a NetBIOS network the computer name is its address. To create a connection over a TCP/IP network that name must be converted to an IP address. In Chapter 3, we discussed various techniques for doing this. The best technique for Windows NT systems is Windows Internet Name Service (WINS).

The WINS server is bundled with Windows NT Server. It is installed in the same manner as most other standard services. WINS is configured by the system administrator using the WINS Manager software. The database that maps NetBIOS names to IP addresses is built automatically. WINS clients register their names and addresses with the WINS server when they connect to the network.

In the next chapter we look at another server that is used to map names to addresses. This server maps Internet domain names to IP addresses. It is called the Domain Name System (DNS).

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