!!! Overview[1]
[{$pagename}] ([SMB]), one version of which was also known as [Common Internet File System] ([CIFS]), operates as an [Application Layer] network [protocol] mainly used for providing shared access to files, printers, and serial ports and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. 

[{$pagename}] also provides an [authenticated inter-process communication mechanism|Authentication Method]. 

Most usage of [{$pagename}] involves computers running Microsoft Windows, where it was known as "Microsoft Windows Network" before the subsequent introduction of [Microsoft Active Directory]. Corresponding Windows services are LAN Manager Server (for the server component) and LAN Manager Workstation (for the client component).

[{$pagename}] is also used with [Samba]

!! Versions of [{$pagename}][]
There are several different versions of [SMB] used by [Microsoft] [Operating Systems]:
* CIFS – The ancient version of SMB that was part of Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 in 1996. SMB1 supersedes this version.
* SMB 1.0 (or SMB1) – The version used in [Windows Server 2000], [Windows XP], [Windows Server 2003] and [Windows Server 2003 R2]
* SMB 2.0 (or SMB2) – The version used in [Windows Vista] (SP1 or later) and [Windows Server 2008]
* SMB 2.1 (or SMB2.1) – The version used in [Windows 7] and [Windows Server 2008 R2]
* SMB 3.0 (or SMB3) – The version used in [Windows 8] and [Windows Server 2012]
* SMB 3.02 (or SMB3) – The version used in [Windows 8.1] and [Windows Server 2012 R2]
[Windows NT] is no longer supported, so CIFS is definitely out. 

[Windows Server 2003 R2] with a current service pack is under Extended Support, so SMB1 is still around for a little while. 

SMB 2.x in [Windows Server 2008] and [Windows Server 2008 R2] are under Mainstream Support until 2015. You can find the most current information on the support lifecycle page for [Windows Server]. The information is subject to the Microsoft Policy Disclaimer and Change Notice.  You can use the support pages to also find support policy information for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

In [Windows 8.1] and [Windows Server 2012 R2], we introduced the option to completely disable [CIFS]/[SMB1] support, including the actual removal of the related binaries. While this is not the default configuration, we recommend disabling this older version of the protocol in scenarios where it’s not useful, like Hyper-V over [SMB].

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
[{ReferringPagesPlugin before='*' after='\n' }]
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* [#1] - [Server Message Block|Wikipedia:Server_Message_Block/|target='_blank'] - based on information obtained 2016-05-20- 
* [#2] - [Windows Server 2012 R2: Which version of the SMB protocol (SMB 1.0, SMB 2.0, SMB 2.1, SMB 3.0 or SMB 3.02) are you using?|https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/josebda/2013/10/02/windows-server-2012-r2-which-version-of-the-smb-protocol-smb-1-0-smb-2-0-smb-2-1-smb-3-0-or-smb-3-02-are-you-using//|target='_blank'] - based on information obtained 2017-05-18