Configuring the Network Information Service (NIS)

Configuring the Network Information Service (NIS)

NIS (Network Information Service) is a networked system administration service that supplements NFS (Network File System). The primary purpose of NIS is to ensure the consistency of system administration information in a heterogeneous network environment. It does so by designating a single host as the master of all the files and databases containing this information. It provides a method to distribute the information to all other hosts on the network.

This chapter presents background information on NIS, suggests guidelines for planning an NIS configuration, and explains configuration and administration procedures. Novice and experienced network administrators alike should read the entire chapter; although you may be familiar with NIS functionality, the section ``How NIS works'' includes details on features unique to the SCO OpenServer implementation.

The term ``Network Information Service'' now refers to the service formerly known as Sun ``Yellow Pages'' or ``YP.'' The functionality remains the same; only the name has changed. Nonetheless, many NIS utilities retain the ``yp-'' prefix, for example, ypmake and ypserv.