NetBIOS and DNS Computer Names

SunLink Server networking components rely on a naming convention known as NetBIOS. In general, NetBIOS computer names consist of a single part.

In contrast, TCP/IP components rely on the DNS naming convention. DNS computer names consist of two parts: a host name and a domain name, which combined form the fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

Fortunately, NetBIOS computer names are compatible with DNS host names, making interoperability possible between the two types of components. SunLink Server software combines the NetBIOS computer name with the DNS domain name to form the FQDN.

In a SunLink Server system, the NetBIOS computer name defaults to the same name as the DNS host name. You can change the default if you need unique names.

A computer can use one or more of the following methods to ensure accurate name resolution in TCP/IP internetworks:

• Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)

  A computer can use WINS if at least one WINS server is available that contains a dynamic database that maps computer names to IP addresses. WINS can be used in conjunction with broadcast name resolution for an internetwork where other name resolution methods are inadequate. As described in the following section, WINS is a NetBIOS over TCP/IP mode of operation.

• Broadcast name resolution

  A computer also can use broadcast name resolution, which is a NetBIOS over TCP/IP mode of operation defined in RFC 1001/1002 as b-node. This method relies on a computer making IP-level broadcasts to register its name by "announcing" it on the network. Each computer in the broadcast area is responsible for challenging attempts to register a duplicate name and for responding to name queries for its registered name.

• DNS name resolution

  The Domain Name System provides a way to look up name mappings when connecting a computer to foreign hosts using NetBIOS over TCP/IP or applications such as FTP. (SunLink Server software does not use this method.)

• An LMHOSTS file to specify the NetBIOS computer name and IP address mappings, or a HOSTS file to specify the DNS name and IP address.

  On a local computer, the HOSTS file (used by Windows Sockets applications to find TCP/IP host names) and LMHOSTS file (used by NetBIOS over TCP/IP to find Microsoft networking computer names) can be used to list known IP addresses mapped with corresponding computer names. LMHOSTS is used for name resolution for small-scale networks or remote subnets where WINS is not available.