nmbd

nmbd is a server that understands and can reply to NetBIOS over IP -name service requests, like those produced by SMBD/CIFS clients such -as Windows 95/98, Windows NT and LanManager clients. It also -participates in the browsing protocols which make up the Windows -"Network Neighborhood" view. -

SMB/CIFS clients, when they start up, may wish to locate an SMB/CIFS -server. That is, they wish to know what IP number a specified host is -using. -

Amongst other services, nmbd will listen for such requests, -and if its own NetBIOS name is specified it will respond with the IP -number of the host it is running on. Its "own NetBIOS name" is by -default the primary DNS name of the host it is running on, but this -can be overridden with the -n option (see OPTIONS below). Thus -nmbd will reply to broadcast queries for its own name(s). Additional -names for nmbd to respond on can be set via parameters in the -smb.conf(5) configuration file. -

nmbd can also be used as a WINS (Windows Internet Name Server) -server. What this basically means is that it will act as a WINS -database server, creating a database from name registration requests -that it receives and replying to queries from clients for these names. -

In addition, nmbd can act as a WINS proxy, relaying broadcast queries -from clients that do not understand how to talk the WINS protocol to a -WIN server. -

OPTIONS

FILES

If the server is to be run by the inetd meta-daemon, this file must -contain suitable startup information for the meta-daemon. -

If running the server as a daemon at startup, this file will need to -contain an appropriate startup sequence for the server. -

This is the default location of the -smb.conf server configuration -file. Other common places that systems install this file are -/usr/samba/lib/smb.conf and /etc/smb.conf. -

When run as a WINS server (see the wins support -parameter in the smb.conf (5) man page), nmbd will -store the WINS database in the file wins.dat in the var/locks directory -configured under wherever Samba was configured to install itself. -

If nmbd is acting as a browse master (see the local master -parameter in the smb.conf (5) man page), nmbd will -store the browsing database in the file browse.dat in the var/locks directory -configured under wherever Samba was configured to install itself. -

SIGNALS

To shut down an nmbd process it is recommended that SIGKILL (-9) -NOT be used, except as a last resort, as this may leave the name -database in an inconsistent state. The correct way to terminate -nmbd is to send it a SIGTERM (-15) signal and wait for it to die on -its own. -

nmbd will accept SIGHUP, which will cause it to dump out it's -namelists into the file namelist.debug in the -/usr/local/samba/var/locks directory (or the var/locks -directory configured under wherever Samba was configured to install -itself). This will also cause nmbd to dump out it's server database in -the log.nmb file. In addition, the debug log level of nmbd may be raised -by sending it a SIGUSR1 (kill -USR1 <nmbd-pid>) and lowered by sending it a -SIGUSR2 (kill -USR2 <nmbd-pid>). This is to allow transient -problems to be diagnosed, whilst still running at a normally low log -level. -

VERSION

DESCRIPTION

This program is part of the Samba suite.

nmbd is a server that understands + and can reply to NetBIOS over IP name service requests, like + those produced by SMBD/CIFS clients such as Windows 95/98/ME, + Windows NT, Windows 2000, and LanManager clients. It also + participates in the browsing protocols which make up the + Windows "Network Neighborhood" view.

SMB/CIFS clients, when they start up, may wish to + locate an SMB/CIFS server. That is, they wish to know what + IP number a specified host is using.

Amongst other services, nmbd will + listen for such requests, and if its own NetBIOS name is + specified it will respond with the IP number of the host it + is running on. Its "own NetBIOS name" is by + default the primary DNS name of the host it is running on, + but this can be overridden with the -n + option (see OPTIONS below). Thus nmbd will + reply to broadcast queries for its own name(s). Additional + names for nmbd to respond on can be set + via parameters in the smb.conf(5) configuration file.

nmbd can also be used as a WINS + (Windows Internet Name Server) server. What this basically means + is that it will act as a WINS database server, creating a + database from name registration requests that it receives and + replying to queries from clients for these names.

In addition, nmbd can act as a WINS + proxy, relaying broadcast queries from clients that do + not understand how to talk the WINS protocol to a WIN + server.

OPTIONS

-D

If specified, this parameter causes + nmbd to operate as a daemon. That is, + it detaches itself and runs in the background, fielding + requests on the appropriate port. By default, nmbd + will operate as a daemon if launched from a command shell. + nmbd can also be operated from the inetd + meta-daemon, although this is not recommended. +

-a

If this parameter is specified, each new + connection will append log messages to the log file. + This is the default.

-o

If this parameter is specified, the + log files will be overwritten when opened. By default, + smbd will append entries to the log + files.

-h

Prints the help information (usage) + for nmbd.

-H <filename>

NetBIOS lmhosts file. The lmhosts + file is a list of NetBIOS names to IP addresses that + is loaded by the nmbd server and used via the name + resolution mechanism name resolve order described in smb.conf(5) + to resolve any NetBIOS name queries needed by the server. Note + that the contents of this file are NOT + used by nmbd to answer any name queries. + Adding a line to this file affects name NetBIOS resolution + from this host ONLY.

The default path to this file is compiled into + Samba as part of the build process. Common defaults + are /usr/local/samba/lib/lmhosts, + /usr/samba/lib/lmhosts or + /etc/lmhosts. See the lmhosts(5) man page for details on the + contents of this file.

-V

Prints the version number for + nmbd.

-d <debug level>

debuglevel is an integer + from 0 to 10. The default value if this parameter is + not specified is zero.

The higher this value, the more detail will + be logged to the log files about the activities of the + server. At level 0, only critical errors and serious + warnings will be logged. Level 1 is a reasonable level for + day to day running - it generates a small amount of + information about operations carried out.

Levels above 1 will generate considerable amounts + of log data, and should only be used when investigating + a problem. Levels above 3 are designed for use only by developers + and generate HUGE amounts of log data, most of which is extremely + cryptic.

Note that specifying this parameter here will override + the log level + parameter in the smb.conf file.

-l <log file>

The -l parameter specifies a path + and base filename into which operational data from + the running nmbd server will + be logged. The actual log file name is generated by + appending the extension ".nmb" to the specified base + name. For example, if the name specified was "log" + then the file log.nmb would contain the debugging data.

The default log file path is compiled into Samba as + part of the build process. Common defaults are /usr/local/samba/var/log.nmb, /usr/samba/var/log.nmb or + /var/log/log.nmb.

-n <primary NetBIOS name>

This option allows you to override + the NetBIOS name that Samba uses for itself. This is identical + to setting the NetBIOS name parameter in the + smb.conf file. However, a command + line setting will take precedence over settings in + smb.conf.

-p <UDP port number>

UDP port number is a positive integer value. + This option changes the default UDP port number (normally 137) + that nmbd responds to name queries on. Don't + use this option unless you are an expert, in which case you + won't need help!

-s <configuration file>

The default configuration file name + is set at build time, typically as /usr/local/samba/lib/smb.conf, but + this may be changed when Samba is autoconfigured.

The file specified contains the configuration details + required by the server. See + smb.conf(5) for more information. +

FILES

/etc/inetd.conf

If the server is to be run by the + inetd meta-daemon, this file + must contain suitable startup information for the + meta-daemon. See the section INSTALLATION below. +

/etc/rc

or whatever initialization script your + system uses).

If running the server as a daemon at startup, + this file will need to contain an appropriate startup + sequence for the server. See the section INSTALLATION + below.

/etc/services

If running the server via the + meta-daemon inetd, this file + must contain a mapping of service name (e.g., netbios-ssn) + to service port (e.g., 139) and protocol type (e.g., tcp). + See the section INSTALLATION below.

/usr/local/samba/lib/smb.conf

This is the default location of the + smb.conf + server configuration file. Other common places that systems + install this file are /usr/samba/lib/smb.conf + and /etc/smb.conf.

When run as a WINS server (see the + wins support + parameter in the smb.conf(5) man page), nmbd + will store the WINS database in the file wins.dat + in the var/locks directory configured under + wherever Samba was configured to install itself.

If nmbd is acting as a browse master (see the local master + parameter in the smb.conf(5) man page), nmbd + will store the browsing database in the file browse.dat + in the var/locks directory + configured under wherever Samba was configured to install itself. +

SIGNALS

To shut down an nmbd process it is recommended + that SIGKILL (-9) NOT be used, except as a last + resort, as this may leave the name database in an inconsistent state. + The correct way to terminate nmbd is to send it + a SIGTERM (-15) signal and wait for it to die on its own.

nmbd will accept SIGHUP, which will cause + it to dump out it's namelists into the file namelist.debug + in the /usr/local/samba/var/locks + directory (or the var/locks directory configured + under wherever Samba was configured to install itself). This will also + cause nmbd to dump out it's server database in + the log.nmb file. In addition, the debug log level + of nmbd may be raised by sending it a SIGUSR1 (kill -USR1 + <nmbd-pid>) and lowered by sending it a + SIGUSR2 (kill -USR2 <nmbd-pid>). This is to + allow transient problems to be diagnosed, whilst still running at a + normally low log level.

nmbd

Samba

23 Oct 1998

NAME

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

OPTIONS

FILES

SIGNALS

VERSION

SEE ALSO

AUTHOR

nmbd

Name

Synopsis

DESCRIPTION

OPTIONS

FILES

SIGNALS

VERSION

SEE ALSO

AUTHOR