Correct Definition/Description of NETBIOS,NETBEUI,SMB,LANMANAGER
Wolfgang Reimann
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After searching the net for a correct definition and description of the
various
"flavors" of that mystery called "LANMANAGER" i'm a little confused
about
the real facts. What seems to be relatively clear to me is the
following:
* NetBIOS: more or less an API of Network Programming for peer to
peer Sessions
* NETBEUI: (NETBIOS extended user interface) Protocol that implements
NETBIOS on one of the low OSI-Layers (??)
* SMB: (Server Message Block) Protocol that uses NETBIOS Messages for
file and print services
* LANMANAGER: Trademark (?) of IBM/Microsoft/Whoever that uses SMB
I know that this topic is like a never ending story. Every few months
somebody asks questions on it and the answers are not always as
consistent as they should be. Some books help increasing the confusion
as they mess up the expressions.
Could somebody please try to clarify that situation. I think it would be
a good idea
to set up some kind of "Lanmanager/Netbios" FAQ! I know many people who
are rather interested in the correct terminology but who already gave
up.
Thanks to any graceful network wizard....
Wolfgang Reimann
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<HTML>
After searching the net for a correct definition and description of the
various
<BR>"flavors" of that mystery called "LANMANAGER" i'm a little confused
about
<BR>the real facts. What seems to be relatively clear to me is the following:
<BR>
<UL>
<LI>
NetBIOS: more or less an API of Network Programming for peer to peer Sessions</LI>
<LI>
NETBEUI: (NETBIOS extended user interface) Protocol that implements NETBIOS
on one of the low OSI-Layers (??)</LI>
<LI>
SMB: (Server Message Block) Protocol that uses NETBIOS Messages for file
and print services</LI>
<LI>
LANMANAGER: Trademark (?) of IBM/Microsoft/Whoever that uses SMB</LI>
</UL>
I know that this topic is like a never ending story. Every few months somebody
asks questions on it and the answers are not always as consistent as they
should be. Some books help increasing the confusion as they mess up the
expressions.
<BR>Could somebody please try to clarify that situation. I think it would
be a good idea
<BR>to set up some kind of "Lanmanager/Netbios" FAQ! I know many people
who are rather interested in the correct terminology but who already gave
up.
<P>Thanks to any graceful network wizard....
<P>Wolfgang Reimann</HTML>
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William L. Whipple [MVP NT, TCP/IP]
Hi, Wolfgang -
NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) is a Session-Level interface
originally developed by Sytek, Inc., for IBMs Broadband and Token-Ring
networks. Microsoft developed a compatible interface for MS-Net, then for
LAN Manager, then for the MS Networking used by WFW, WinNT and Win95. Once
a NetBIOS session is established between two hosts, then they can exchange
data such as NetBIOS requests or SMB messages.
SMB (Server Message Block) protocol was developed jointly by Microsoft,
Intel, and IBM. It is used in various products including MS OS/2 LAN
Manager, DEC Pathworks, MS WFW, IBM LAN Server, MS-DOS LAN Manager, and
MS-Net.
NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface) was first introduced by IBM in
1985. It is a protocol written to the NetBIOS interface for use on small,
departmental LANS of 10 to 200 workstations. Microsoft has supported
NetBEUI in all networking products since MS-Net in the mid 1980's. NBF
(NetBEUI Frame) is the NetBEUI implementation used in WindowsNT.
LAN Manager is a Microsoft networking product originally used in the DOS
environment.
Here things get a little foggy (it's been a long time...): The reason LAN
Manager is closely associated with IBM is that back when it was a leading
product, MS and IBM were very closely linked (remember when you could get
DOS from EITHER IBM or MS?). When MS and IBM had a falling out and OS/2 and
Chicago (Win95) went their seperate ways, MS came out with WFW (Windows for
Workgroups) and LAN Manager was de-emphasized as a product.
Others are free to add to, clarify, and/or correct the above...
;-}
- Bill
Wolfgang Reimann wrote in message <344D27EC...@merck.de>...