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authorAlexander Bokovoy <ab@samba.org>2003-04-30 21:17:53 +0000
committerAlexander Bokovoy <ab@samba.org>2003-04-30 21:17:53 +0000
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+<chapter id="netbios">
+<chapterinfo>
+ <author>
+ <firstname>Luke</firstname><surname>Leighton</surname>
+ </author>
+ <pubdate>12 June 1997</pubdate>
+</chapterinfo>
+
+<title>Definition of NetBIOS Protocol and Name Resolution Modes</title>
+
+<sect1>
+<title>NETBIOS</title>
+
+<para>
+NetBIOS runs over the following tranports: TCP/IP; NetBEUI and IPX/SPX.
+Samba only uses NetBIOS over TCP/IP. For details on the TCP/IP NetBIOS
+Session Service NetBIOS Datagram Service, and NetBIOS Names, see
+rfc1001.txt and rfc1002.txt.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+NetBEUI is a raw NetBIOS frame protocol implementation that allows NetBIOS
+datagrams to be sent out over the 'wire' embedded within LLC frames.
+NetBEUI is not required when using NetBIOS over TCP/IP protocols and it
+is preferable NOT to install NetBEUI if it can be avoided.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+IPX/SPX is also not required when using NetBIOS over TCP/IP, and it is
+preferable NOT to install the IPX/SPX transport unless you are using Novell
+servers. At the very least, it is recommended that you do not install
+'NetBIOS over IPX/SPX'.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+[When installing Windows 95, you will find that NetBEUI and IPX/SPX are
+installed as the default protocols. This is because they are the simplest
+to manage: no Windows 95 user-configuration is required].
+</para>
+
+<para>
+NetBIOS applications (such as samba) offer their services (for example,
+SMB file and print sharing) on a NetBIOS name. They must claim this name
+on the network before doing so. The NetBIOS session service will then
+accept connections on the application's behalf (on the NetBIOS name
+claimed by the application). A NetBIOS session between the application
+and the client can then commence.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+NetBIOS names consist of 15 characters plus a 'type' character. This is
+similar, in concept, to an IP address and a TCP port number, respectively.
+A NetBIOS-aware application on a host will offer different services under
+different NetBIOS name types, just as a host will offer different TCP/IP
+services on different port numbers.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+NetBIOS names must be claimed on a network, and must be defended. The use
+of NetBIOS names is most suitable on a single subnet; a Local Area Network
+or a Wide Area Network.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+NetBIOS names are either UNIQUE or GROUP. Only one application can claim a
+UNIQUE NetBIOS name on a network.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+There are two kinds of NetBIOS Name resolution: Broadcast and Point-to-Point.
+</para>
+
+</sect1>
+
+<sect1>
+<title>BROADCAST NetBIOS</title>
+
+<para>
+Clients can claim names, and therefore offer services on successfully claimed
+names, on their broadcast-isolated subnet. One way to get NetBIOS services
+(such as browsing: see ftp.microsoft.com/drg/developr/CIFS/browdiff.txt; and
+SMB file/print sharing: see cifs4.txt) working on a LAN or WAN is to make
+your routers forward all broadcast packets from TCP/IP ports 137, 138 and 139.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+This, however, is not recommended. If you have a large LAN or WAN, you will
+find that some of your hosts spend 95 percent of their time dealing with
+broadcast traffic. [If you have IPX/SPX on your LAN or WAN, you will find
+that this is already happening: a packet analyzer will show, roughly
+every twelve minutes, great swathes of broadcast traffic!].
+</para>
+
+</sect1>
+
+<sect1>
+<title>NBNS NetBIOS</title>
+
+<para>
+rfc1001.txt describes, amongst other things, the implementation and use
+of, a 'NetBIOS Name Service'. NT/AS offers 'Windows Internet Name Service'
+which is fully rfc1001/2 compliant, but has had to take specific action
+with certain NetBIOS names in order to make it useful. (for example, it
+deals with the registration of &lt;1c&gt; &lt;1d&gt; &lt;1e&gt; names all in different ways.
+I recommend the reading of the Microsoft WINS Server Help files for full
+details).
+</para>
+
+<para>
+The use of a WINS server cuts down on broadcast network traffic for
+NetBIOS name resolution. It has the effect of pulling all the broadcast
+isolated subnets together into a single NetBIOS scope, across your LAN
+or WAN, while avoiding the use of TCP/IP broadcast packets.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+When you have a WINS server on your LAN, WINS clients will be able to
+contact the WINS server to resolve NetBIOS names. Note that only those
+WINS clients that have registered with the same WINS server will be
+visible. The WINS server _can_ have static NetBIOS entries added to its
+database (usually for security reasons you might want to consider putting
+your domain controllers or other important servers as static entries,
+but you should not rely on this as your sole means of security), but for
+the most part, NetBIOS names are registered dynamically.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+This provides some confusion for lots of people, and is worth mentioning
+here: a Browse Server is NOT a WINS Server, even if these services are
+implemented in the same application. A Browse Server _needs_ a WINS server
+because a Browse Server is a WINS client, which is _not_ the same thing].
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Clients can claim names, and therefore offer services on successfully claimed
+names, on their broadcast-isolated subnet. One way to get NetBIOS services
+(such as browsing: see ftp.microsoft.com/drg/developr/CIFS/browdiff.txt; and
+SMB file/print sharing: see cifs6.txt) working on a LAN or WAN is to make
+your routers forward all broadcast packets from TCP/IP ports 137, 138 and 139.
+You will find, however, if you do this on a large LAN or a WAN, that your
+network is completely swamped by NetBIOS and browsing packets, which is why
+WINS was developed to minimise the necessity of broadcast traffic.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+WINS Clients therefore claim names from the WINS server. If the WINS
+server allows them to register a name, the client's NetBIOS session service
+can then offer services on this name. Other WINS clients will then
+contact the WINS server to resolve a NetBIOS name.
+</para>
+
+</sect1>
+
+</chapter>