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

Initializing an NIS Client

Initializing an NIS Client

The following steps explain how to initialize an NIS client.

  1. Log in as root and enter the following command to shut down the system:

    /etc/shutdown -g0 -y

    You see messages as the system services stop. Press <Enter> at the Safe to Power Off message.

  2. The following prompt appears:
       Type <Ctrl>D to proceed with normal startup,
       (or give root password for system maintenance)
    

  3. Type the root password, then press <Enter>.

  4. Enter either of the following commands at your operating system prompt:
    
    mkdev nis

    or

    /etc/yp/ypinit

    The functionality and the options for ypinit and mkdev nis are identical.

  5. NIS prompts you to choose the host type:
       You must specify whether this host is to be a master, slave server,
       copy-only server or NIS client. Please enter the server type:[mscCq]
    

    Enter C to indicate that you are setting up an NIS client. If you want to stop the initialization, enter q.

  6. If NIS has been previously initialized on your system, you see the following:
       NIS has been initialized previously on this machine
       Please verify that you would like to re-initialize NIS
       Do you wish to re-initialize NIS? (y/n/q)
    
    Enter y to continue.

  7. You then see:
       The local host's domain name hasn't been set. Please set it.
       Please enter the domain name or q to quit:
    
    Enter the NIS domain name; you need an NIS domain name to retrieve data from an NIS database.

    You will be asked:

       Is "domainname" correct? [y/n/q]
    
    Enter y if correct. If you enter n, you will be asked to reenter the domain name. If you enter q, NIS initialization aborts.

  8. You then see:
       You must specify whether ypbind is to be run with the secure
       option (-s), the ypset option (-ypset), allowing anyone to
       change your binding, or the ypsetme option (-ypsetme) which
       only allows requests with host-name's IP address
       to change host-name's binding, or with no options.
       Please see ypserv(NADM) for more information
       1) ypbind -s
       2) ypbind -ypset
       3) ypbind -ypsetme
       4) ypbind
       Please enter your choice (1-4,q):
    
    Enter the response appropriate to your security concerns.

    Option 1
    Recommended for most heterogeneous environments, where other versions of NIS are also in use.

    Option 2
    Recommended when the server is on a different subnet, and you want others to be able to change your bindings.

    Option 3
    Recommended when the server is on a different subnet, and only requests with host-name's IP address should be able to change your bindings.

    Option 4
    Recommended for a SCO NIS environment where the server is on the same subnet.

    For further information, consult the ypserv(NADM) manual page, which includes information about ypbind. See also ypset(NADM).

  9. You then see:
       server_name's NIS data base has been set up without any errors.
    
    Your NIS client is now initialized.

  10. Shut the system down and reboot it by using the System Shutdown Manager as described in the SCO OpenServer Handbook. Remember to select Reboot after shutdown when using the manager.


NOTE: As a side effect of initializing an NIS client, the entry ``NIS_ENABLED=Y'' is made automatically in the file /etc/default/security. If you do not require an NIS client to be able to read password and group maps, change the entry to ``NIS_ENABLED=N'' before rebooting the system.