Netbios.exe: NetBIOS Client and Server Sample (177314)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.51
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
    • Microsoft Windows 98
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q177314

SUMMARY

Netbios.exe is a NetBIOS programming sample that implements an echo server and client. The sample illustrates how a client and server should be written in order to make the application protocol and LAN Adapter (LANA) independent. It also shows how to avoid common mistakes programmers frequently make when writing NetBIOS applications under WIN32.

MORE INFORMATION

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

NetBIOS.exe

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

For a discussion about LANAs see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

138037 How to Use LANA Numbers in a 32-bit Environment

This file is associated with the NetBIOS echo client/server sample.

There are four source files associated with this application: 
   client.c   - source code for client app
   server.c   - source code for server app
   nbcommon.c - NetBIOS functions common to client and server
   nbcommon.h - common NetBIOS defines and prototypes

Compilation & Execution

These files compile into two applications: client.exe and server.exe.

First, compile nbcommon.c into object code. In a DOS prompt, type:

cl /c nbcommon.c

Next, compile the two applications with the following commands:

cl -o client client.c nbcommon.obj netapi32.lib

cl -o server server.c nbcommon.obj netapi32.lib

To run the server:

server SERVER-NAME

SERVER-NAME uniquely identifies the echo service. All clients who want to connect to the server should connect using this name.

To run the client:

client CLIENT-NAME SERVER-NAME

CLIENT-NAME uniquely identifies the client. SERVER-NAME identifies which NetBIOS server the client wishes to connect to. Both of these names are NetBIOS names which are formed as follows:
  1. Names are no longer than 16 characters long.
  2. Names are unique. Only one instance of a name can exist in the network at any time.
  3. The 16th character must be greater than 0x20. These values 0x20 and below are reserved and designate certain this name as a machine name, user name, etc. Consult a NetBIOS reference for the exact use of these reserved values.
For example, the server is executed on a machine named "AJONES1" with this command:

server MYSERVER1

This establishes the server process as MYSERVER1. This name is registered with the machine and can be verified by running:

nbtstat -a AJONES1

which will display a list of all names registered with the machine including "MYSERVER1." Please note that nbtstat.exe is a utility that is installed only when the TCP/IP protocol is installed. It is a very useful utility for debugging certain aspects of Netbios programs, and I would highly recommend installing it.

Execute the client from a machine named "AJONES2" with this command:

client MYCLIENT MYSERVER1

The client will connect to the server, send a string, and read the string back from the server.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/11/2005
Keywords:kbAPI kbfile kbNetBIOS kbnetwork KB177314
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.