NetBIOS names reference
For all Microsoft operating systems that support and use NetBIOS names, the
first 15 characters of a name can be specified by a user. However, the 16th
character of the name (00-FF hex) always indicates a resource type.
This section contains additional information and examples of NetBIOS names
used by Microsoft networking components.
NetBIOS name types: an overview
The following are the most common types of NetBIOS names that can be used in
the WINS database. When creating static mappings, these general types are
available for selected use.
Type |
Description |
Unique |
Used to associate the computer specified by name in Computer name and a
single IP address in IP address for this static mapped entry. When this
type is selected, three types of records are statically added to the WINS
database for the specified computer name. These are the [00h]WorkStation,
[03h]Messenger and [20h] File Server types. |
Group |
Also referred to as a normal group. This type is used to add a static
entry for the computer, specified by name in a static mapping, to a
workgroup used on your network. If this type is used, the IP address for
the computer is not stored in WINS, but is resolved through local subnet
broadcasts. |
Domain Name |
Indicates a domain name [1C] mapped entry for locating
Windows NT domain controllers. For more information,
see Locating domain controllers using NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT). |
Internet Group |
Used for special user-defined administrative groups. You can use this to
group resources. For example, you can indicate a group of file or print
servers for organizing shared resources that are visible when browsing
your network places. Each Internet group is represented by a shared group
name of [20h] type in the WINS database. |
Multihomed |
Used to register a unique name for a computer that has more than one IP
address (either multiple adapters each using a single address or one
network adapter configured with multiple IP addresses). |
NetBIOS Unique Names
Format |
Description |
computer_name[00h] |
Registered by the Workstation Service on the WINS client. In general,
this name is called the NetBIOS computer name. |
computer_name[03h] |
Registered by the Messenger Service on the WINS client. This service is
used by the client when sending and receiving messages. This name is
usually appended to both the NetBIOS computer name for the WINS client
computer and the name of the user currently logged on to that computer
when sending messages on the network. |
computer_name[06h] |
Registered by the Routing and Remote Access service on the WINS client
(when the service is started). |
domain_name[1Bh] |
Registered by each Windows NT Server 4.0 domain controller
running as the domain master browser. This name record is used to allow
remote browsing of domains. When a WINS server is queried for this name, a
WINS server returns the IP address of the computer that registered this
name. |
computer_name[1Fh] |
Registered by the Network Dynamic Data Exchange (NetDDE) services. This
appears only if the NetDDE services are started on the computer. |
computer_name[20h] |
Registered by the Server service on the WINS client. This service is
used to provide points of service to the WINS client to provide sharing of
its files on the network. |
computer_name[21h] |
Registered by the RAS Client service on the WINS client (when the RAS
Client is started). |
computer_name[BEh] |
Registered by the Network Monitoring Agent Service and appearing only if
the service is started on the WINS client computer. If the computer name
has fewer than 15 characters, the remaining character spaces are padded
with plus (+) symbols. |
computer_name[BFh] |
Registered by the Network Monitoring Utility (included with Microsoft
Systems Management Server). If the computer name has fewer than 15
characters, the remaining character spaces are padded with plus (+)
symbols. |
username[03h] |
User names for currently logged-on users are registered in the WINS
database. Each user name is registered by the Server service component so
that users can receive any net send commands sent to the user name.
If more than one user logs on with the same user name, only the first
computer logged on with that name registers the name. |
NetBIOS Group Names
Format |
Description |
domain_name[00h] |
Registered by the Workstation Service so that it can receive browser
broadcasts from LAN Manager-based computers. |
domain_name[1Ch] |
Registered for use by the domain controllers within the domain. These
contain up to 25 IP addresses. |
domain_name[1Dh] |
Registered for use by master browsers, of which there is only one per
subnet. Backup browsers use this name to communicate with the master
browser, retrieving the list of available servers from the master browser.
WINS servers always return a positive registration response for domain_name[1D],
even though the WINS server does not register this name in its
database. Therefore, when a WINS server is queried for the domain_name[1D],
the WINS server returns a negative response, which forces the client to
broadcast for name resolution. |
group_name[1Eh] |
A normal group name. Any computers configured to be network browsers can
broadcast to this name, and listen for broadcasts to this name, to elect a
master browser. A statically mapped group name uses this name to register
itself on the network. When a WINS server receives a name query for a name
ending with [1E], the WINS server always returns the network broadcast
address for the local network of the requesting client. The client can
then use this address to broadcast to the group members. These broadcasts
are for the local subnet and should not cross routers. |
group_name[20h] |
A special group name called the Internet Group is registered with
WINS servers to identify groups of computers for administrative purposes.
For example, "printersg" could be a registered group name used
to identify an administrative group of print servers. |
--__MSBROWSE__[01h] |
Registered by the master browser for each subnet. When a WINS server
receives a name query for this name, the WINS server always returns the
network broadcast address for local network of the requesting client. |
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