nbtstat

This diagnostic command displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NetBIOS over TCP/IP.

Syntax

nbtstat [-a remotename] [-A IPaddress] [-c] [-n] [-R] [-r] [-S] [-s] [interval]

Parameters

-a remotename

Lists the remote computer's name table using the computer's name.

-A IPaddress

Lists the remote computer's name table using the computer's IP address.

-c

Lists the contents of the NetBIOS name cache, giving the IP address of each name.

-n

Lists local NetBIOS names.

-R

Reloads the LMHOSTS file after purging all names from the NetBIOS name cache.

-r

Lists name resolution statistics for Windows networking. On a Windows NT computer configured to use WINS, this option returns the number of names resolved and registered via broadcast or via WINS.

-S

Displays both workstation and server sessions, listing the remote hosts by IP address only.

-s

Displays both workstation and server sessions. It attempts to convert the remote host IP address to a name using the HOSTS file.

interval

Redisplays selected statistics, pausing interval seconds between each display. Press Ctrl+C to stop redisplaying statistics. If this parameter is omitted, nbtstat prints the current configuration information once.

Notes

The column headings generated by the nbtstat utility have the following meanings.

In

Number of bytes received.

Out

Number of bytes sent.

In/Out

Whether the connection is from the computer (outbound) or from another system to the local computer (inbound).

Life

The remaining time that a name table cache entry will live before it is purged.

Local Name

The local NetBIOS name associated with the connection.

Remote Host

The name or IP address associated with the remote host.

Type

This refers to the type of name. A name can either be a unique name or a group name.

<03>

Each NetBIOS name is 16 characters long. The last byte often has special significance, because the same name can be present several times on a computer. This notation is simply the last byte converted to hexadecimal. For example, <20> is a space in ASCII.

State

The state of NetBIOS connections. The possible states are shown in the following list:

State

Meaning

Connected

The session has been established

Associated

A connection endpoint has been created and associated with an IP address

Listening

This endpoint is available for an inbound connection

Idle

This endpoint has been opened but cannot receive connections

Connecting

The session is in the connecting phase where the name-to-IP address mapping of the destination is being resolved

Accepting

An inbound session is currently being accepted and will be connected shortly

Reconnecting

A session is trying to reconnect if it failed to connect on the first attempt

Outbound

A session is in the connecting phase where the TCP connection is currently being created

Inbound

An inbound session is in the connecting phase

Disconnecting

A session is in the process of disconnecting

Disconnected

The local computer has issued a disconnect, and it is waiting for confirmation from the remote system