Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Security Handbook

Server Message Block (SMB)

The Server Message Block (SMB) protocol defines a series of commands used to pass information between networked computers. A block of data contains a work request from a workstation to a server or contains the response from the server to the workstation. SMBs are used for all communications that go through the server or workstation service, such as file I/O, printing, account administration, or performing any other network function that the redirector needs to carry out.

Higher-level services for standard Microsoft networking functionality are provided by the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. Microsoft network redirectors use this structure to send remote requests or information over the network to a remote computer. ...