NetBIOS is a protocol that operates at the
Session Layer (Layer 5) of the OSI model. This layer is responsible for establishing, managing, and ending communication sessions between two systems.
NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) helps applications on different computers communicate over a local area network (LAN). It does not handle the transport or network layer tasks directly but focuses on session services like name resolution and session control.
Functions of NetBIOS in the Session Layer:
- It allows computers to find each other on the network using names instead of IP addresses.
- It helps in managing sessions between applications by setting up, maintaining, and ending the connection.
- It ensures that data exchange during the session is properly organized and maintained.
Why this matters:
- The Session Layer is important for making sure that data from different conversations (or sessions) doesn’t get mixed up.
- NetBIOS helps manage these sessions by providing naming and session communication services.
- This is useful in older Windows-based networking systems where applications rely on name-based communication over LANs.
Conclusion: NetBIOS is a key example of a protocol used at the Session Layer. It helps manage and control communication sessions between devices. Knowing this is helpful for understanding how layered communication works in networks and for preparing for interviews in networking.
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