Quick Answer
The answer is the nmbd daemon. This Samba component provides NetBIOS name resolution and browsing services by listening on UDP port 137 for name service requests and UDP port 138 for datagram distribution, allowing Windows clients to map NetBIOS names to IP addresses and discover shared resources in Network Neighborhood. On the LPIC-2 exam, this tests your understanding of Samba’s legacy NetBIOS infrastructure versus modern DNS-based discovery; a common trap is confusing nmbd with smbd, which handles file and print sharing. Remember that nmbd is the “name broker daemon”—think “nmbd = NetBIOS name broker” to keep it straight from smbd, the service manager.
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which Samba component provides NetBIOS name resolution and browsing services?
swat
Why wrong: swat is a configuration tool.
smbd
Why wrong: smbd provides file and print sharing.
nmbd
nmbd handles NetBIOS name services and browsing.
winbind
Why wrong: Winbind handles AD integration.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
nmbd
The nmbd daemon is the Samba component responsible for NetBIOS name resolution and browsing services. It listens for NetBIOS name service requests (port 137/UDP) and datagram distribution (port 138/UDP), enabling Windows clients to resolve NetBIOS names to IP addresses and participate in network browsing (e.g., listing shares in Network Neighborhood). Without nmbd, Samba cannot provide legacy NetBIOS-based name resolution or browse lists, though modern Samba can also use DNS-based discovery.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
swat
Why it's wrong here
swat is a configuration tool.
smbd
Why it's wrong here
smbd provides file and print sharing.
nmbd
Why this is correct
nmbd handles NetBIOS name services and browsing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
winbind
Why it's wrong here
Winbind handles AD integration.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse smbd (the core file-sharing daemon) with nmbd, assuming that file sharing inherently includes name resolution, but in Samba these are separate daemons with distinct roles.
Detailed technical explanation
NetBIOS name resolution relies on the NBNS (NetBIOS Name Service) protocol, defined in RFC 1001/1002, where nmbd acts as both a NetBIOS name server (if configured as a WINS server) and a client for name registration and resolution. In browsing, nmbd participates in the election of a local master browser and maintains the browse list, which is critical for legacy Windows networks that do not use DNS or Active Directory. A subtle behavior: if nmbd is not running, Samba can still serve files via smbd using direct IP connections, but Windows clients may fail to discover the server in Network Neighborhood.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
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FAQ
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: nmbd — The nmbd daemon is the Samba component responsible for NetBIOS name resolution and browsing services. It listens for NetBIOS name service requests (port 137/UDP) and datagram distribution (port 138/UDP), enabling Windows clients to resolve NetBIOS names to IP addresses and participate in network browsing (e.g., listing shares in Network Neighborhood). Without nmbd, Samba cannot provide legacy NetBIOS-based name resolution or browse lists, though modern Samba can also use DNS-based discovery.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This LPIC-2 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LPIC-2 exam.
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