The Workstation (LanmanWorkstation) service creates and maintains client network connections and communications. The Workstation service is a user-mode wrapper for the Microsoft Networks redirector. It loads and performs configuration functions for the redirector, supports network connections to remote servers, supports the WNet APIs, and provides redirector statistics.

This service is installed by default, and its startup type is Automatic.

If the Workstation service stops, clients cannot establish connections to remote servers or access files through named pipes. Clients and programs cannot access files and printers on other remote computers, but TCP/HTTP connectivity is not affected. Internet browsing and Web Client access still work.

The Workstation service is dependent upon the following system components:

• Browser Support Driver
• Network Store Interface Service
• NSI proxy service driver
• SMB 1.x MiniRedirector
• SMB 2.0 MiniRedirector
• SMB MiniRedirector Wrapper and Engine
• Redirected Buffering Sub System
• Mup

The following system components are dependent on the Workstation service:

• Computer Browser
• Netlogon
• Remote Desktop Configuration