ypinit Command

Purpose

Sets up NIS maps on a Network Information Services (NIS) server.

Syntax

To Set up NIS on an NIS Master Server

/usr/sbin/ypinit [  -o ] [  -n ] [  -q ] -m [ SlaveName ... ]

To Set up NIS on an NIS Slave Server

/usr/sbin/ypinit -s MasterName

Description

The ypinit command sets up NIS maps on a Network Information Services (NIS) master server or NIS slave server. Only users with root user authority can use the ypinit command.

By default, the ypinit command uses the ASCII system files as input files for the map being created.

Flags

Item Description
-m [SlaveName...] Indicates that the local host is to be the NIS master. If the -q flag is used the -m flag can be followed by the names of the machines that will be the NIS slave servers.
-n Indicates that the ypinit command is not to stop if it finds errors.
-o Allows any existing maps for the current NIS domain to be overwritten.
-q Indicates that the ypinit command is to get arguments from the command line instead of prompting for input.
-s MasterName Copies NIS maps from the server workstation you specify in the MasterName parameter.

Examples

  1. To set up an NIS master server that functions as the master for all NIS maps, type the following command on the command line: 
    ypinit -m
    This command invokes the make procedure, which follows the instructions in the /var/yp/Makefile file.
  2. To set up an NIS slave server, type: 
    ypinit -s zorro
    In this example, the ypinit command copies the NIS maps onto your workstation from the NIS server named zorro, making your workstation an NIS slave server.
  3. To set up an NIS master server without being prompted for input, type: 
    ypinit -o -n -q -m slave
    Note: If the system has previously been configured as an NIS master server, ensure that the directory, /var/yp/binding, is removed before executing ypinit. If old information is stored in /var/yp/binding, it may cause errors to occur during configuration of the NIS master server.

Files

Item Description
/etc/bootparams Lists clients that diskless clients can use for booting.
/etc/passwd Contains an entry for each user that has permission to log on to the machine.
/etc/group Contains an entry for each user group allowed to log on to the machine.
/etc/hosts Contains an entry for each host on the network.
/var/yp/Makefile Contains rules for making NIS maps.
/etc/networks Contains the name of each network in the DARPA Internet.
/etc/netmasks Lists network masks used to implement IP standard subnetting.
/etc/netid Contains identification information for machines, hosts, and groups.
/etc/rpc Contains map information for RPC programs.
/etc/services Contains an entry for each server available through the Internet.
/etc/protocols Defines Internet protocols used on the local host.
/etc/netgroup Contains information about each user group on the network.
/etc/ethers Contains the Ethernet addresses of hosts on the Internet network.
/etc/publickey Contains public or secret keys for NIS maps.