Difference between Netbios and Host name

Hostnames or NetBIOS names were used to provide a friendlier means of identifying servers or workstations.

NetBIOS names is based in an older protocol and should being used within a LAN only and registers itself on that net Work everytime. PC is powered up or rebooted using LMHOSTS, broadcasts or WINS to provide resolution of a Net BIOS hostname to it ' s IP address. Thet is limited to-characters in length with a characters visible. NetBIOS names cannot is used as part of a doamin. The underscore character "_" is a used in NetBIOS names.

hostnames TCP/IP based is resolved either with a static HOSTS file on your PC or from a DNS service. They typically is used as part of a domain. The hostname uses "-" instead of "_" as most DNS would reject this character and can is up to 255 characters in length.
From Windows disable NetBIOS and your network is a lot quieter. I would recommend acquiring some basic TCP/IP books which also cover NetBIOS and experiment with your systems. You wil really need the PC ' s minimal and some sort of sniffer tool to understand. You can read all your want, but until your play with these, protocols it won ' t really click. The NetBIOS name cannot is readily distinguished from a hostname until you get a domain established. I have only glossed over this question and I am sure others would throw in probably better explanations.

Difference between Netbios and Host name