Knowledge Base

Microsoft NetBIOS Computer Naming Conventions

Article ID: 188997

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

Microsoft Windows 3.11 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition

This article was previously published under Q188997

SUMMARY

This article is intended to clarify what are valid NetBIOS computer names.

MORE INFORMATION

A computer name can be up to 15 alphanumeric characters with no blank spaces. The name must be unique on the network and can contain the following special characters:

   ! @ # $ % ^ & ( ) - _ ' { } . ~

The Following characters are not allowed:

   \ * + = | : ; " ? < > ,

REFERENCES

Microsoft Windows NT Network Administration 4.0

Support Fundamentals For Microsoft Windows NT 3.5

Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit

RFC 1001 Protocol Standard For A NetBIOS Service On A TCP/UDP Transport:

Concepts And Methods

Additional query words: netbios name net bios

Keywords: kbinfo KB188997