<p>This is not yet particularly programing related but, I am very interested in how Vista and XP resolve network names in a home LAN situation.</p>

<p>With Windows 2000, network name resolution was either done via the netbeui protocol - tcp/ip networks needes a wins server. XP and Vista no longer install netbeui by default, so its entirely unclear to me how PCs on a lan are meant to find each other.</p>

<p>One part of the puzzle's solution seems to be, IF there is a router appliance on the network that is configured as a DHCP server (and, as a result, a DNS server) then DNS queries of PC names tend to resolve.</p>

<p>In the more isolated case - a couple of XP and Vista PCs connected to an ethernet hub, configured to talk only tcp/ip - what services and what protocols are involved in name resolution and broadcasting?</p>

It looks like Peer Name Resolution Protocol is being used with Vista and XP.
Peer Name Resolution Protocol
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726971.aspx
People Near Me
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726969.aspx
Edit: After doing a little bit more digging after Chris's comment, here is a link on how Windows XP Professional resolves names:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457118.aspx#ECAA