WAC104 Access Point - how to change Netbios group

[RAlfes62]

I have a WAC104 Wireless Access point. Firmware 1.0.4.21. Is there a way to change the Netbios group? It shows up as "Workgroup" by default and I'd like to change it to the name I use on my network. I don't see anywhere in the interface to change it.

[MikeD1234]

Hi @RAlfes62,

This option is not present on the WAC104.

You could request a feature, in the feature requests: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-For-Business/idb-p/idea-exchange-for-business

Or, speak to support, and have them raise a feature request for this.

The higher end APs, do have the option to have the Netbios name configured.

Mike

[schumaku]

Five-by-one. 

---

@MikeD1234 wrote:

The higher end APs, do have the option to have the Netbios name configured.

---

No way my friend. Even if trying hard, I can't see any NetBIOS host announcements from any Netgear WAC5xx, WAX2xx, or WAX6xx. Nothing to reconfigure as not NetBIOS host announcements.  Wild guess, you talk about the SSDP https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Service_Discovery_Protocol - which does not have any workgroup reference.

Needless to say, what the historic NetBIOS does show, is purely informative or organizational. It has no security relevance. Obsolete to think about a feature change IMHO. 

Have located a WAC104 on an auction platform, ... when I make the highest bid (not willing to spend a lot of money on such old ***), I should have one at hand by tomorrow afternoon.

[MikeD1234]

@schumaku,

The WAXx00 series, support NetBIOS name:

So, in the WAX units, we can change this:

Furthermore, there is an option to enable/disable LLDP, that transmits some additional information, for switches to show. Which also uses the system name etc.

Mike

[schumaku]

The claim this is supposed to be a NetBIOS name is at least misleading, but more likely simply wrong.

None of the WAC5xx or WAX6xx does neither broadcast an NDNS registration on changing the name nor are there the mandatory NDNS refresh cycles broadcasted. Examples attached.

Leaving alone that the modern Windows does no longer have the legacy Computer Browser Service enabled, even if the CIFS and SMB 1.0 "feature" is enabled...

 

[MikeD1234]

Yes, I should have tested it. Just did it now 😁.

Just tested requesting netBIOS details from my WAX630 and several other WAX APs:

WiFi:
Node IpAddress: [10.250.0.125] Scope Id: []

    Host not found.

However, if I request this from my NAS, I do get a response:

WiFi:
Node IpAddress: [10.250.0.125] Scope Id: []

           NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

       Name               Type         Status
    ---------------------------------------------
    STORAGE2       <00>  UNIQUE      Registered
    STORAGE2       <03>  UNIQUE      Registered
    STORAGE2       <20>  UNIQUE      Registered
    WORKGROUP      <00>  GROUP       Registered
    WORKGROUP      <1E>  GROUP       Registered

I just further checked it, and it seems that it's SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) that displays the name, and transmits it across, together with LLDP when it's requested by a neighboring device (i.e., switch that powers it).

Blurred out some details here 😊.

@RAlfes62 maybe this will help you, if you do decide to change it to a higher-end AP, that allows you to view it on the network itself.

I will discuss this with the engineering team, why it's named netBIOS, and/or, if there is confusion here, why the reference is done as it is done.

Mike

[schumaku]

Mike,

The good ol'WAC104 (received one today from a second hand market) and updated to the current  does indeed publish NBNS, and answers with a full set of NetBIOS e.g. to an NBSTAT query.

Beyond the in my opinion obsolete NetBIOS workgroup announcements, it is announcing it's presence by the much more current (and IMHO useful) SSDP.

Regards,

-Kurt