Configure the NetBIOS Cache Name Length

To specify how many characters of the NetBIOS type name that the name cache will validate, enter the following command in global configuration mode:

Command	Purpose
netbios name-cache name-len length	Specify the number of characters of
	the NetBIOS type name to cache.

Enable NetBIOS Proxying

The Cisco IOS software can act as a proxy and send NetBIOS datagram type frames. To enable this capability, use the following global configuration command:

Command	Purpose
netbios name-cache proxy-datagram seconds	Enable NetBIOS proxying.

To define the validation time when the software is acting as a proxy for NetBIOS NAME_QUERY command or for explorer frames, use the following global configuration command:

Command	Purpose
rif validate-age seconds	Define validation time.

Create Static Entries in the NetBIOS Name Cache

If the router communicates with one or more NetBIOS stations on a regular basis, adding static entries to the NetBIOS name cache for these stations can reduce network traffic and overhead. You can define a static NetBIOS name cache entry that associates the server with the NetBIOS name and the MAC address. If the router acts as a NetBIOS server, you can specify that the static NetBIOS name cache is available locally through a particular interface. If a remote router acts as the NetBIOS server, you can specify that the NetBIOS name cache is available remotely. To do this, use one of the following commands in global configuration mode:

Command	Purpose
netbios name-cachemac-address netbios-name	Define a static NetBIOS name cache entry
interface-name	and specify that it is available locally
	through a particular interface.

netbios name-cachemac-address netbios-name	Define a static NetBIOS name cache entry
ring-groupgroup-number	and specify that it is available remotely.

If you have defined a NetBIOS name cache entry, you must also define a RIF entry. For an example of how to configure a static NetBIOS entry, see the “NetBIOS Support with a Static NetBIOS Cache Entry Example” section later in this chapter.

Specify Dead-Time Intervals for NetBIOS Packets

When NetBIOS name caching is enabled and default parameters are set on the router (as well as the NetBIOS name server and the NetBIOS name client), approximately 20 broadcast packets per logon are kept on the local ring where they are generated. The broadcast packets are of the type ADD_NAME_QUERY, ADD_GROUP_NAME, and STATUS_QUERY.

Configuring Source-Route Bridging BC-125