HP 200 Series Services And Applications page 156

Novell IPX Routing Service
NetBIOS Protocol Support
NetBIOS Protocol Support
The Network Basic Input/Output System (NetBIOS) is a widely implemented
session-layer protocol developed by Sytek, Inc., for IBM PC networks. Many
vendors have written programs that are compatible with NetBIOS. NetBIOS
broadcasts are used by client programs to establish the connections with
servers.
NetBIOS was originally designed to directly use services provided by data-
link-layer protocols. To allow client programs to run across an IPX internet-
work, Novell NetWare provides a NetBIOS emulator. Novell NetBIOS runs
over the Packet Exchange Protocol (PEP), at the transport layer, and over
IPX, at the network layer.
IPX routing service on HP routers can be configured to either forward or
restrict NetBIOS broadcast packets. NetBIOS broadcast packets received on
one of the HP router's IPX interfaces will be broadcast on all other IPX
interfaces using the IPX "all nets" broadcast facility. The acceptance and/or
rebroadcasting of NetBIOS broadcast packets can be configured for each
interface. Therefore, the router has the capability to restrict server or client
access to remote connections.
There are two parameters used to configure Novell NetBIOS broadcast
handling on an IPX router interface. Set the Accept NetBIOS Bcasts from
Net parameter to enable or disable client access on a given IPX network to
NetBIOS servers on other networks. When enabled, client-generated
NetBIOS broadcast will be sent to other networks. Set the Deliver NetBIOS
Bcasts to Net parameter to enable or disable access to servers on a given
IPX network. When enabled, NetBIOS broadcasts from other networks will
be sent to this network.
Novell NetBIOS can be used in IPX internetworks with up to a maximum
network diameter of eight hops. However, this restriction, as well as
problems related to excessive NetBIOS broadcast traffic, can be overcome
by using NetBIOS broadcast static routes.
For more information on configuring NetBIOS broadcasts, refer to the IPX
configuration parameters in the reference manual.
2-104