Networking Guide
Chapter 7, Configuring the Network Information Service (NIS)

Understanding YP_MAP_X_LATE

Understanding YP_MAP_X_LATE

The /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE file contains a complete listing of active NIS maps. The most common entries are hosts, group, passwd, and ypservers, although all standard and nonstandard maps (that is, created by you) must be listed here if you wish NIS to serve them. The format of this file is described on the ypmapxlate(NF) manual page.

The maps listed in YP_MAP_X_LATE get created when NIS is initialized by executing ypinit(NADM) or mkdev nis. You must list all the maps you need in YP_MAP_X_LATE before your system is initialized. If you add new maps after initialization, they need not be listed in YP_MAP_X_LATE to be made functional; however, because NIS consults YP_MAP_X_LATE when propagating maps, new maps must be listed here for them to be propagated using yppush(NADM), ypxfr(NADM), or other NIS utilities. For this reason, we recommend that you keep YP_MAP_X_LATE up-to-date on your master server.

Although slave and copy-only servers do not propagate maps and hence do not consult YP_MAP_X_LATE, we recommend that you keep this file current on nonmaster servers to simplify NIS administration.

YP_MAP_X_LATE also contains NIS aliases for NIS maps; aliases may be used by all NIS servers. If you have a system on your network that cannot handle long map names (that is, longer than 14 characters), you can add an alias to YP_MAP_X_LATE, showing a shortened alias for the map. If you have additional aliases to include in YP_MAP_X_LATE, add them before configuring NIS.