Server message block
Server message block (SMB) is a network protocol mainly applied to share files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. It is mainly used by Microsoft Windows equipped computers.SMB was originally invented by IBM but the most common version is modified heavily by Microsoft, and goes by the name CIFS - the Common Internet File System.
SMB works through a client-server approach, where a client makes specific requests and the file server responds accordingly.
The SMB servers make their file systems and other resources available to clients on the network. Client computers may have their own hard disks, which are not publicly shared, yet also want access to the shared file systems and printers on the server.
SMB clients may use any transport protocol (e.g. NetBEUI or IPX), though TCP/IP is the most common.
Microsoft has added several tweaks and incompatibilities to its own SMB implementation that are not part of the original SMB protocol.
Samba is a free software reimplementation of the SMB protocol and the Microsoft extensions to it.
See also: