Network Information Service (NIS)

The Network Information Service (NIS) is similar to Windows Active directory by concept. Initially NIS is developed under name Yellow Pages or YP by SUN. Since the name "Yellow Pages" is already made as trademark by British Telecom for its commerial telephone directory SUN released the package as NIS. NIS uses client-server method which allows users to login from dump terminal to a remote system where all his account credentials are maintained.

Server Configuration

Packages Required:

ypserv

yp-bind

yp-tool

Configuration files

/etc/sysconfig/network

/etc/yp.conf

/var/yp

Install

yum install yp*

Set the NISDOMAIN variable

# Edit /etc/sysconfig/network and add the following entry. The NISDOMAIN should be same as host name.

NISDOMAIN=<ServerDomain>

Ex:

# If hostname is server.animal.com then set NISDOMAIN as below.

NISDOMAIN=server.animal.com

(OR)

#Alertnatively run the below command which will do the same

nisdomainname server.animal.com

# Edit /etc/yp.conf to add the domain details

domain <domain name> server <server ip>

Ex:

domain server.animal.com server 192.168.1.3

# Now run the init command with -m option to make the setting to act as master.

# This will create an entry server.animal.com in /var/yp folder.

/usr/lib/yp/ypinit -m

#Add the domain name (server.animal.com) if not there

Cntl+D

y/n - y

# Now complete the initialization by running make command.

cd /var/yp

make

#Restart the following services

service ypserv restart

service yppasswdd restart

service ypxfrd restart

service ypbind restart

service rpcbind restart

#Now create a user and set password
Ex:

useradd nisuser

passwd nisuser

Client Configuration

Packages Required:

yp-bind

yp-tool

Install

yum install yp*

Set the NISDOMAIN variable which is set in Server.

# Edit /etc/sysconfig/network and add the following entry. The NISDOMAIN should be same as host name.

NISDOMAIN=<ServerDomain>

Ex: (If server.animal.com is NIS server name).

NISDOMAIN=server.animal.com

(OR)

#Alertnatively run the below command which will do the same

nisdomainname server.animal.com

#Run authconfig-tui tool to enable NIS service.

authconfig-tui

[*] Use NIS       ###Click Next

NIS Name: server.animal.com  

Server     : 192.168.1.3      ###Click Next

#Restart the following services

service ypbind restart

service rpcbind restart

#Verify NIS is working by logging into NIS user created at server side.

su nisuser

password: nisuser

Note:

In real time the home directory of user will be mounted on client using NFS.