Network Basic Input/Output System - NetBIOS. The NetBIOS protocol gives ability for applications on different computers to communicate each other across a local area network. This days networks, it traditional runs over TCP/IP protocol protocol (NetBIOS over TCP/IP protocol), giving each computer NetBIOS name and an IP address associated to a (possibly different) host name. Older operating systems supports NetBIOS over IPX/SPX protocol. NetBIOS offer services oriented to the session layer of the OSI model.

NetBIOS was launched by Sytek Inc. for IBM's PC-Network in 1983. The protocol was developed for small networks - PC-Network only supported up to 80 devices. After publishing in a technical reference book from IBM, the protocol's API has become a standard for the future networks.

If NetBIOS is run over the TCP/IP protocol, one computer may have two "names" â€" names for the NetBIOS API and other (or others) for basic TCP/IP protocol.

NetBIOS offers three distinct services:

- Name service - for name registration and resolution in the network.
- Session service - for connection-oriented communication.
- Datagram distribution service for connectionless communication.

In most networks NetBIOS is not used and you can stop it. If you do this and your internet connection was stopped, just turn it on back.

If you want to turn off NetBIOS protocol in Windows XP click on Start menu, go to Control Panel > Network Connections > Your_Network_Name > Properties.

Next click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) > Properties > Advanced.

Next, click on WINS tab, and uncheck Enable LMHOSTS lookup and also click on Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP radio button.