NETBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) is a protocol suite used to enable communication between computers over a local area network (LAN). It functions as an intermediate layer between the physical network and the applications running on a computer, providing a standardized way for computers to locate and communicate with each other.
NETBIOS was originally developed by IBM in the 1980s and quickly became a widely adopted protocol due to its simplicity and ease of use. It allows computers to share files, printers, and other resources, as well as to exchange messages and establish connections.
One of the key features of NETBIOS is its name resolution system. Each device on a network is assigned a unique 16-bit name, known as the NETBIOS name, which is used to identify and address that device. NETBIOS also supports a naming service, known as the NETBIOS Name Service (NBNS), which maps the NETBIOS names to the corresponding IP addresses.
NETBIOS can operate over various types of network protocols, including the widely used TCP/IP, as well as NetBEUI and IPX/SPX. It employs a client-server architecture, where one device acts as a NETBIOS server, offering resources to other devices, while the remaining devices act as NETBIOS clients, requesting and accessing those resources.
Although NETBIOS has been largely superseded by more advanced network protocols like SMB (Server Message Block), it remains in use in some legacy systems and continues to be supported by many operating systems.
