NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface (NetBEUI) was one of the
earliest protocols available for use on networks composed of
personal computers. It was designed around the Network Basic
Input/Output System (NetBIOS) interface to be a small, efficient
protocol for use in department-sized LANs of 20 to 200
computers, which would not need to be routed to other subnets.
At present, NetBEUI is used almost exclusively on small,
non-routed networks consisting of computers running a variety of
operating systems. Windows 2003-based NetBEUI, known as NetBIOS
Frame (NBF), is the underlying implementation of the NetBEUI
protocol and is installed on computers running Windows 2003. It
provides compatibility with existing LANs that use the NetBEUI
protocol.
The advantages of NetBEUI include:
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Small stack size.
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No configuration requirement.
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High speed of data transfer on the network.
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Compatibility with all Microsoft-based operating systems,
including Windows 2003.
The major disadvantage of NetBEUI is that it does not support
routing. Because of this, computers running NetBEUI can
communicate only with other computers in the same network
segment.
AppleTalk
AppleTalk is Apple Computer’s proprietary protocol stack
designed to enable Apple Macintosh computers to share files and
printers in a network environment.
Some of the characteristics of the AppleTalk protocol are:
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It enables Macintosh clients to access a server running
Windows 2003.
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It is routable. Computers running AppleTalk can communicate
across segments in a routed network environment.
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It enables Macintosh clients to access print services
provided by a server running Windows 2003 if Print Server
for Macintosh is installed on the server.
Other Communication Protocols
In addition to supporting most commonly used networking
protocols, the Windows 2003 operating system supports other
communication protocols and technologies, such as:
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Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).
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Infrared Data Association (IrDA).
ATM and IrDA are both international standards for communication
technologies. ATM was developed for the high-speed transmission
of multimedia content, and IrDA was developed for wireless
connectivity.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is a high-speed protocol that
transports multiple types of traffic across a network. The ATM
technology was developed from international standards for the
simultaneous transmission of data, voice, and video over a
network at high speed. A device called an ATM switch is used to
enable network communication by using the ATM protocol. Client
computers communicate with each other by means of a network of
ATM switches.
