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In my Network settings under WINS I have the NetBios name (elly) that I would like to disable (kill).

The message shows that the "elly"is currently been used ?

By whom, for what ?

There a bunch of messages in the Console with for example elly.local WindowServer ?? what server ? I do not have one ?

My search on Google and here did not help.

I tried deleting the NetBios name, but it comes back!

Also tried the without success!

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.netbiosd.plist

I have no local network, nor any workgroup set up, just a lone wifi connection to the world.

Running Hostname in Terminal shows "Elly.Local"

I would not mind using Terminal to kill it, but I'm just wondering whether there's any UI-based way to just turn off all of this stuff. I am not a big fan of running services I'm not using.

MBA 10.8.4

Ruskes
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    Added the flag Security, because being concerned not to run services you don't control is a plain legitimate security improvment. – dan Aug 13 '13 at 11:07
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    I don't have an answer yet for your query, but I did want to clarify something. In your question, you reference WindowServer as if it is a Microsoft Windows Server, it appears. However, WindowServer is an element of OS X (AppKit, HIToolbox, etc.) See link below for more about WindowServer.

    https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/technotes/tn2083/_index.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/DTS10003794-CH1-SUBSECTION14

     – Dave Aug 21 '13 at 03:11

3 Answers3

5

I didn't find any way through the GUI (on Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan & Sierra).

On the other hand the following receipe is stopping netbiosd. In a Terminal or an xterm type:

% ps ax | grep [/]netbios
  122   ??  SNs    1:52.41 /usr/sbin/netbiosd
% /usr/bin/sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.netbiosd.plist
Password:
% ps ax | grep [/]netbios
%

The second ps command shouldn't output anything. This is normal and means that there isn't anymore any netbiosd running.

Another way to check that netbiosd isn't anymore chating continuously on all your network interfaces is to use tcpdump for a full 5 minutes:

% /usr/bin/sudo tcpdump -i en0 host elly.local udp port netbios-ns
[...]
^C
0 packets captured
nnnnnn packets received by filter
0 packets dropped by kernel
% /usr/bin/sudo tcpdump -i en1 host elly.local udp port netbios-ns
[...]
^C
0 packets captured
mmmmmm packets received by filter
0 packets dropped by kernel
%

These 2 commands should say exactly 0 packets captured otherwise something is leaking.

airsquared
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dan
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    If with time and experience increasing you find any nicer way, please post it. I'm interested too :). – dan Nov 03 '14 at 10:33
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    This worked for macOS Sierra: sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.netbiosd.plist – bassplayer7 Nov 30 '16 at 23:56
  • → bassplayer7: thank you for this validation on actual version :). – dan Dec 01 '16 at 11:28
0

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.netbiosd.plist

Worked for my 2012 Mac Mini with El Capitan. Restarted twice and no netbiosd in Activity Monitor.

bmike
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Urly Grace
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For future reference, Apple has a support article dealing with this here:

How to disable SMB 1 or NetBIOS in macOS

Robert Foster
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  • While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes. – grg Sep 06 '21 at 22:29