Microsoft merged the SMB protocol with the LAN Manager product which it had started developing for OS/2 with 3Com around 1990, and continued to add features to the protocol in Windows for Workgroups () and in later versions of Windows.
Изначально SMB был реализован через NetBIOS (поверх NBF, IPX/SPX или NetBIOS over TCP/IP) и использовался в сетях MS-NET и LAN Manager для DOS, а также в Windows for Workgroups.