Which protocol is used to register services on a network by computers with a NetBIOS name?

The protocol used to register services on a network by computers with a NetBIOS name is associated with the WINS Server. WINS, or Windows Internet Name Service, is designed specifically for the purpose of resolving NetBIOS names to IP addresses. When a computer wants to connect to a service using a NetBIOS name, it communicates with the WINS server, which then resolves that name into an actual IP address, allowing the connection to be established.

WINS is particularly beneficial in networks that operate in environments where NetBIOS is commonly used, such as older Windows networks. By enabling dynamic name resolution, WINS helps to manage the names of networked devices efficiently, preventing conflicts and improving the ease of access to services.

Although other protocols like TCP/IP are fundamental for data transmission in networks, they do not specifically register services based on NetBIOS names. Similarly, DHCP is used for assigning IP addresses dynamically to devices on a network, and DNS is primarily concerned with resolving domain names to IP addresses rather than NetBIOS names. These distinctions clarify why WINS is the appropriate choice in this context.