SMB

A single term can have several meaning attached to it depending upon the context it is used in, sometime it also happens that a single term has several meaning even if it is dealt with reference to a single perspective. Same is the case with this term, SMB. This article deals with this term with respect to the networking world and this term stands for two different things in the networking world. This article will state both the meanings that are attached with this word, with respect to the networking world.

Firstly, this term is used as an acronym for Small to midsized business or small medium business. It is a common knowledge that whether a business is small or large, a network is always present in an organization which helps in connecting the various devices with one another and allows the sharing of the data. So a small scale business having a network in it is named as Small Scale Business or SMB in the networking world.

Secondly, this term is used as the acronym for Server Message Block in the networking world. This server message block is a format that is used by the DOS and the Windows to share files, documents, directories and devices. This Server block message is also commonly known in the networking world by the name of CIFS or Common internet File System. This technology actually works as an application layer network protocol, in the networking world. This technology is quite an important technology for the networking world as many applications that are made, make use of this SMB to function properly, for example the NetBIOS is based on the same format as the SMB. Other examples of the products which make use of this technology or are made on the same format are Windows NT, Lan Manager etc.