NIS+ Questions ..

[someone_4]

Hello everyone ..
I have set up NIS+ on two servers (test servers) but I have a couple of questions about my config.

1.The docs I read say I have to Reboot the host to force long running process to read the new /etc/nsswitch.conf file. Is there another way to do this besides rebooting?

2.I get this pop up box when I add a user though sam
The "NIS_GROUP" variable is not set in your environment. Where do I set NIS_group?

3.It changed my dns setting in nsswitch.conf to use NIS. Should I go with NIS for hosts? I have an internal DNS servers that I set up.Is it ok to just use NIS+ for users and nothing else?

4.What are DES credentials ? And does it ask me for the password for that? I made it the same as the password for the user is that ok?

5.Also the way it looks I only want to use NIS+ for external users am I right? root,nobody,bin shouldnt go in NIS+ at all.. right?

6.I have public servers and internal servers. Our root password is differnt on public vs. internal.Should I do it the same with regular users now? Or should I enforce the same rule? If I want differnt passwords per server then I would have to slip it up though NIS+ though groups right? Or is there another way?

[Jeff Machols]

Answer to 2 of the questions,

If you have a DNS server you don't want to change nsswitch.conf. If you do this, the system will first try to resolve off the NIS servers host file, you want the first check (I assume) to be off DNS not NIS.

Also, you are correct about local users (root, bin, etc.) they do not want to be NIS, if your NIS server went down, you would not be able to log in as root to the other machines.

[Eugen Cocalea]

Hi,

1. Every time I made modifications to /etc/nsswitch.conf, they are read on the fly, without booting the machine. I can't remember what happens when you install it for the first time since I install all the servers with NIS by default and they reboot for some other reasons before I start using NIS. :)

2. Dunno. I suppose that your NIS servs user groups as well, right?

3. Use DNS for hosts and NIS for users.

4. http://anguilla.u.arizona.edu/doc_link/en_US/a_doc_lib/aixbman/nisplus/secur_authent.htm

5. external like in 'from the master'.

6. the whole purpose of NIS and NIS+ is to have the same users on every machine, so why having different passwords on different machines, or have I got it wrong?

E.