Evolution of SMB and NetBIOS

Now days, NetBIOS is working on top of higher level protocols (TCP/IP, DECnet, IPX/SPX). That allows SMB to work across routable LANs.

NetBIOS name resolution (name - to - IP ):
broadcast (on LAN)
lmhosts
WINS servers

In 1996/97, Microsoft commercially updated SMB and gave it a new name, Common Interface File System (CIFS) The four basic CIFS functions:

Name resolution
Service announcement (browsing)
File and print services sharing
Authentication and Authorization

Starting with Windows 2000, Microsoft decoupled NetBIOS from CIFS. CIFS can rely on DNS and supports NetBIOS for backward compatibility.

To allow file system connectivity with Windows clients, Unix servers and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices need to provide CIFS support.

In the future, Microsoft is planning to migrate to WinFS and drop CIFS. Recommended reading: Linux Magazine, May 2001, article "Understanding the Network Neighborhood" by Christopher R. Hertel