netbios name is the network basic input and output servies 
it is just like DNS in 2000  and 2003 servers. it is used 
for hostname resolution in prewindows systems.

NETBIOS name its funactionality is similar to DNS in 
windows 2000/2003 server. The NETBIOS used in window NT 
server for name resolation like ip to name or vice versa.

NetBIOS:-
The original networking protocol for DOS and Windows PCs. 
NetBIOS packets did not contain a network address and were 
not easily routable between networks. As a result, the 
interface to NetBIOS and the transport part of NetBIOS were 
later separated so that NetBIOS applications could use 
routable protocols such as TCP/IP and SPX/IPX. The 
programming interface (API) retained the NetBIOS name, 
while the transport protocol was renamed NetBEUI 
(pronounced "net-boo-ee").

Name Resolution

Today, NetBIOS is used to support legacy NetBIOS 
applications but is also widely used for NetBIOS name 
resolution. Since NetBIOS was the first major standard for 
PC networks, computers were named according to the NetBIOS 
format, which identifies a machine by a unique 15-character 
name. NetBIOS machines periodically broadcast their names 
over the network so that Network Neighborhood or My Network 
Places can catalog them.