NetBEUI

NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface, in Spanish Extended User Interface of NetBIOS), is a network layer protocol without routing and fairly straightforward used as one of the layers in early Microsoft networks. NetBIOS over NetBEUI is used by many operating systems developed in the 1990s, such as LAN Manager, LAN Server, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows NT.

This protocol is sometimes confused with NetBIOS, but NetBIOS is an idea of how a set of services should be given to applications. With NetBEUI it becomes a protocol that is in several services. NetBEUI can be seen as an implementation of NetBIOS over IEEE 802.2 LLC. Other protocols, such as NetBIOS over IPX/SPX or NetBIOS over TCP/IP, also implement NetBIOS services but with their own tools.

NetBEUI uses IEEE 802.2 mode 1 to provide name service and datagram service, and mode 2 to provide session service. NetBEUI abuses broadcast messages, which is why it has gained a reputation for overusing the interface.

NetBIOS was developed for IBM networks by Saytek, and was also used by Microsoft in their MS-NET in 1985. In 1987 Microsoft and Novell also used this protocol for their network operating systems LAN Manager and NetWare.

Since NetBEUI has no routing, it can only be used to communicate terminals on the same network segment, but it can communicate two network segments that are connected by a network bridge. This means that it is only recommended for medium or small networks. In order to use this protocol in larger networks optimally, it must be implemented on top of other protocols such as IPX or TCP/IP.

Services

In late 1985, IBM released that protocol, which it merged with the NetBIOS API to become NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI). NetBEUI was designed for local area networks (LANs), and allowed each machine to use a name (up to 15 characters) that was not already being used on the network. We understand by small LAN, a network of less than 255 nodes. The NetBEUI protocol has become very popular in network applications.

Availability

NetBEUI -aside from DOS and UNIX- is officially supported by Microsoft on all of its operating systems up to Windows 2000, but its use has rapidly declined since the advent of NetBIOS over TCP/IP.

Microsoft does not support NetBEUI from Windows XP, although it still provides the possibility of a manual installation from the original Windows XP CD-ROM.

Because of this, it is not officially known whether the NetBEUI protocol can be installed on Windows Vista effectively, even if it is not supported by Microsoft. Also, another reason to add may be the significant change in the TCP/IP protocol in Windows Vista. The TCP/IP client and server components may have changed too much due to being completely rewritten, which could have generated the loss of compatibility with the NetBEUI protocol designed for Windows XP. Despite this, the NetBEUI files on the Windows XP CD-ROM seem to work correctly on Windows Vista.