Interoperability Using NBF
NetBIOS Frame (NBF) provides compatibility with computers running on the previous versions of operating systems, such as Microsoft LAN Manager, MS-Net, and IBM LAN Server. NBF can be used to connect LAN workstation and server computers, and to connect remote and dial-up clients, including portable computers, to computers running Windows 2000 Server.
NBF can be used with programs that implement a variety of services based on the following application programming interfaces (APIs):
NetBIOS
Named Pipes
Mailslot
Network dynamic data exchange (DDE)
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) over NetBIOS
RPC over Named Pipes
NBF is most efficient when used for computers connecting to small or medium-sized, single-location networks. NBF is not a routable protocol like Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), although NBF does support Token Ring routing — available only on IBM Token Ring networks. Additionally, NBF uses a single part naming scheme that does not support network segmentation used in most large networks.