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.
Windows clients cannot see the Samba server in Network Neighborhood, but they can access shares by typing the UNC path. Which Samba daemon must be running?
smbd
Why wrong: smbd is for file and printer services, not browsing.
samba
Why wrong: samba is a service wrapper, not a single daemon.
winbindd
Why wrong: winbindd is for user/group resolution, not browsing.
nmbd
nmbd provides NetBIOS name resolution and browsing.
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 responsible for NetBIOS name resolution and browsing, which enables Windows clients to discover Samba servers in Network Neighborhood. When nmbd is not running, clients can still connect via UNC paths because smbd handles file sharing directly, but browsing and name resolution fail.
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.
smbd
Why it's wrong here
smbd is for file and printer services, not browsing.
samba
Why it's wrong here
samba is a service wrapper, not a single daemon.
winbindd
Why it's wrong here
winbindd is for user/group resolution, not browsing.
nmbd
Why this is correct
nmbd provides NetBIOS name resolution and browsing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
LPI often tests the distinction between smbd (file sharing) and nmbd (browsing/name resolution), trapping candidates who assume that file access implies browsing capability.
Detailed technical explanation
nmbd implements the NetBIOS Name Service (NBNS) and the NetBIOS Datagram Service, which are essential for Windows Network Neighborhood browsing. It responds to NetBIOS name queries and maintains a local browse list that is shared with other master browsers on the subnet. Without nmbd, Samba cannot participate in the NetBIOS election process or announce itself as a browse server.
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 responsible for NetBIOS name resolution and browsing, which enables Windows clients to discover Samba servers in Network Neighborhood. When nmbd is not running, clients can still connect via UNC paths because smbd handles file sharing directly, but browsing and name resolution fail.
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 30, 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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