M-node

Definition of M-node in The Network Encyclopedia.

What is M-node?

A NetBIOS name resolution method used for name registration and resolution. M-node is one of the types of NetBIOS over TCP/IP nodes defined in Request for Comments (RFC) numbers 1001 and 1002, and is supported by computers running Microsoft Windows NT.

How It Works

Name resolution is the process of converting the name of a host on the network into a network address (such as an IP address). Name resolution must be performed in order to establish communication over a network. M-node is one of four basic methods supported by Windows NT for resolving NetBIOS host names (that is, computer names) into IP addresses.

If a computer running Windows NT is configured as an M-node machine, it first tries to use broadcasts to resolve the names of the hosts, similar to a B-node machine. If name resolution fails this way (for example, if broadcasts are stopped by routers from reaching computers on other subnets), Windows NT tries to use a NetBIOS name server to resolve names of other hosts on the network, similar to a P-node machine. A Windows NT server with the Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) configured on it is a typical example of a NetBIOS name server. The “M” in the term “M-node” stands for “mixed,” as M-node is a mixture of B-node and P-node, in that order.