NetBIOS Scope

NetBIOS scope is a seldom-used feature that limits the computers that a particular network device can communicate with.

The chief use of scope is in wide area networks (WANs) or other large networks, where it can prevent conflicts caused by two or more network interfaces having the same NetBIOS name.

Consider a network belonging to a shoe manufacturer where two machines, both earmarked for use by Sales personnel, exist on the same subnet.

One machine is used by those selling sneakers, and the other by those selling boots. If both machines had the NetBIOS name "sales," problems would result. However, if one machine is given the scope name "sneakers" and the other "boots," then both machines could retain the NetBIOS name "sales" without any conflict. Note however, that both machines could then only communicate with other machines possessing the same scope.