Name

NetBEUI

Synopsis

A fast and efficient LAN protocol used for small workgroups.

Description

NetBEUI is suitable only for use in small workgroups consisting of a few dozen computers. This is because:

  • It is not routable and hence cannot be used in an internetwork with many subnetworks connected by routers.

  • Active Directory cannot be used on top of NetBEUI, and so you cannot use it to build Windows 2000 domains.

  • It cannot be used to connect to the Internet without a suitable gateway to translate between NetBEUI and TCP/IP.

  • It relies strongly on broadcasts for its operation, which limits the number of workstations that can effectively communicate with it on a network segment.

As a result, it is generally better to abandon NetBEUI altogether and adopt TCP/IP, the default Windows 2000 networking protocol. If you do want to install it, however, see network protocol.

Notes

  • Once NetBEUI is installed, there is nothing to configure.

  • I’ve heard that Microsoft plans to abandon NetBEUI in Whistler, the next release of Windows 2000—it’s about time!

See Also

network protocol, TCP/IP

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