What is the purpose of the '-a' parameter in the nbtstat command?

The purpose of the '-a' parameter in the nbtstat command is to display NetBIOS names for a specified remote computer. When you use this option, you provide the IP address of the remote machine as an argument, and the command will retrieve and show the registered NetBIOS names associated with that IP address. This is particularly useful for network administrators and forensic investigators who need to gather information about network resources and their corresponding names.

Using the '-a' parameter helps in troubleshooting NetBIOS issues, understanding network topology, and identifying potential unauthorized devices on a network. The output includes details such as the NetBIOS names and their types, which can assist in further investigations or network maintenance tasks.