Do I need NETBIOS and the LMHOSTS file?

I've got a home network, a WinXP and a Win2000 computer connected via wired LAN, and a
WinXP laptop connected via WiFi. I'm using a Linksys WRT150N router.

All I need are internet access for all computers (I'm using Comcast), and file/printer
sharing between all computers.

For all computers, in my Advanced TCP/IP Settings, do I need to have Enable NetBIOS over
TCP/IP? Or should it be disabled? Or use the Default option of Use NetBIOS setting from
the DHCP server?

Also, do I need to Enable LMHOSTS lookup?

Thanks!!!

Lanwench
Tue Mar 18 10:47:25 PDT 2008

Tony <TonyB77@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've got a home network, a WinXP and a Win2000 computer connected via
> wired LAN, and a WinXP laptop connected via WiFi. I'm using a Linksys
> WRT150N router.
>
> All I need are internet access for all computers (I'm using Comcast),
> and file/printer sharing between all computers.
>
> For all computers, in my Advanced TCP/IP Settings, do I need to have
> Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP?

Yes, unless you don't want to use IP addresses or deal with hosts files

> Or should it be disabled? Or use the
> Default option of Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server?

Since you're using your router for DHCP (and not a Windows server) see
above.
>
> Also, do I need to Enable LMHOSTS lookup?

Stick with the defaults.
>
> Thanks!!!

Tony
Tue Mar 18 11:00:33 PDT 2008

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote...
> Tony wrote:
> > I've got a home network, a WinXP and a Win2000 computer connected via
> > wired LAN, and a WinXP laptop connected via WiFi. I'm using a Linksys
> > WRT150N router.
> >
> > All I need are internet access for all computers (I'm using Comcast),
> > and file/printer sharing between all computers.
> >
> > For all computers, in my Advanced TCP/IP Settings, do I need to have
> > Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP?
>
> Yes, unless you don't want to use IP addresses or deal with hosts files
>
> > Or should it be disabled? Or use the
> > Default option of Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server?
>
> Since you're using your router for DHCP (and not a Windows server) see
> above.
> >
> > Also, do I need to Enable LMHOSTS lookup?
>
> Stick with the defaults.
> >
> > Thanks!!!

Thanks, Lanwench, for the quick reply!!!

Can I ask you, what are the recommended settings for the DNS tab under Advanced TCP/IP
settings? These settings had been messed with and I don't know what the defaults for my
situation should be.

Lanwench
Tue Mar 18 11:52:03 PDT 2008

Tony <TonyB77@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote...
>> Tony wrote:
>>> I've got a home network, a WinXP and a Win2000 computer connected
>>> via wired LAN, and a WinXP laptop connected via WiFi. I'm using a
>>> Linksys WRT150N router.
>>>
>>> All I need are internet access for all computers (I'm using
>>> Comcast), and file/printer sharing between all computers.
>>>
>>> For all computers, in my Advanced TCP/IP Settings, do I need to have
>>> Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP?
>>
>> Yes, unless you don't want to use IP addresses or deal with hosts
>> files
>>
>>> Or should it be disabled? Or use the
>>> Default option of Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server?
>>
>> Since you're using your router for DHCP (and not a Windows server)
>> see above.
>>>
>>> Also, do I need to Enable LMHOSTS lookup?
>>
>> Stick with the defaults.
>>>
>>> Thanks!!!
>
> Thanks, Lanwench, for the quick reply!!!
>
> Can I ask you, what are the recommended settings for the DNS tab
> under Advanced TCP/IP settings? These settings had been messed with
> and I don't know what the defaults for my situation should be.

If you use DHCP you shouldn't see any DNS servers in there - nor much of
anything. Since you don't have an internal DNS server don't worry about the
DNS suffix stuff. If you aren't having any problems, I'd just stick with
what you've got now :)