Which protocols use ports 137 and 139 to facilitate file and printer sharing on Windows networks?

The correct choice is the Network Basic Input/Output System (NetBIOS), as it is specifically designed to facilitate communication over a local area network, allowing for file and printer sharing among devices on Windows networks. Ports 137 and 139 are associated with NetBIOS services; port 137 is used for NetBIOS Name Service (NBNS), which resolves NetBIOS names to IP addresses, while port 139 is utilized for NetBIOS Session Service, which manages sessions and facilitates file sharing.

Understanding the associated services helps clarify why the other options are not relevant. Secure Shell (SSH) operates over port 22 and is used for secure remote login and command execution, making it unrelated to file and printer sharing. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), primarily used for sending emails, typically uses port 25 (or 587 for secure transmission), which does not pertain to the file-sharing context of NetBIOS. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) functions over ports 67 and 68, and its purpose is to assign IP addresses to devices on a network, rather than file and printer sharing. Thus, NetBIOS is the only option that accurately describes the use of ports 137 and 139 in this context.