Configuring NIS Services in Linux Server

This article shows how to Configure NIS Services in a Linux server

What is NIS?

Network Information Service (NIS) is used for keeping a centralized repository of users, hostnames and other useful information in a computer network. In single server UNIX environments, the list of users and groups is usually kept in a file such as /etc/passwd. Using NIS adds a "global" directory which is used for authenticating users from any host on the network.

Install the Packages:

Install the yp-tools, ypbind and  ypserv rpm packages on the server.

[root@nissrv1 /]# rpm -qa |grep ypbind

ypbind-1.12-5.21.6

[root@ nissrv1 /]# rpm -qa |grep ypserv

ypserv-2.8-7

[root@ nissrv1 /]# rpm -qa |grep yp-tools

yp-tools-2.8-6


Defining the NIS Domain Name:

Edit the /etc/sysconfig/network file


We need to add the NIS domain name we wish to use in the /etc/sysconfig/network file. 


For this example, we will call the domain "LINUX-NIS".

#/etc/sysconfig/network

NISDOMAIN="LINUX-NIS"

Note: Use Non-FQDN Names.Edit /etc/hosts file as well to make the server using Non-FQDN name.

NIS servers also need to be NIS clients themselves, so we will have to edit the yp.conf to point this file towards the server itself, or localhost.

# /etc/yp.conf - ypbind configuration file

ypserver 127.0.0.1

NIS Server Daemons:

The following is a list of NIS server daemons and their functionality.

DAEMON NAME	PURPOSE
portmap	The foundation service for RPC
yppasswdd	Allows users to change their NIS passwords
ypserv	NIS server daemon
ypbind	NIS client daemon
ypxfrd	The NIS map transfer daemon

Starting the NIS Server Related Daemons:

We now need to start a couple of the NIS daemons in the /etc/init.d directory. In this case we will only be starting the portmap, yppasswdd, and ypserv daemons so that we can initialize the NIS domain.


On RHEL we would issue the following commands:

[root@nissrv1]# /etc/init.d/portmap start

Starting portmapper: [  OK  ]

[root@nissrv1]# /etc/init.d/yppasswdd start

Starting YP passwd service: [  OK  ]

[root@nissrv1]# /etc/init.d/ypserv start

Setting NIS domain name LINUX-NIS:  [  OK  ]

Starting YP server services: [  OK  ]

we would use the chkconfig command to configure these daemons to start after every reboot.

[root@nissrv1]# chkconfig portmap on

[root@nissrv1]# chkconfig yppasswdd on

[root@nissrv1]# chkconfig ypserv on

We need to make sure these daemons are running before continuing to the next step. We can use the rpcinfo command to do this:

[root@nissrv1]# rpcinfo -p localhost

program     vers proto  port

   100000    2   tcp    111  portmapper

   100000    2   udp    111  portmapper

   100009    1   udp    681  yppasswdd

   100004    2   udp    698  ypserv

   100004    1   udp    698  ypserv

   100004    2   tcp    701  ypserv

   100004    1   tcp    701  ypserv

The ypbind and ypxfrd might be listed as running, even though they do not start properly until after the initialization of the NIS domain. If they are running, we will restart these daemons after the domain initialization is completed.


Initializing the NIS Domain:


Now that we have decided on the name of the NIS domain, we will have to use the ypinit command to create the associated authentication files for the domain. We will be prompted for the name of the NIS server, which in this case is nis-server.

[root@nissrv1]# /usr/lib/yp/ypinit -m 

At this point, we have to construct a list of the hosts which will run NIS servers. nissrv1 is in the list of NIS server hosts. We must continue to add the names for the other hosts, one per line. When we are done with the list, simply type "a".

next host to add:  nissrv1

next host to add:

The current list of NIS servers looks like this:

nissrv1

Is this correct?  [y/n: y]  y

We need a few minutes to build the databases...

Building /var/yp/LINUX-NIS/ypservers...

Running /var/yp/Makefile...

gmake[1]: Entering directory `/var/yp/LINUX-NIS'

Updating passwd.byname...

Updating passwd.byuid...

Updating group.byname...

Updating group.bygid...

Updating hosts.byname...

Updating hosts.byaddr...

Updating rpc.byname...

Updating rpc.bynumber...

Updating services.byname...

Updating services.byservicename...

Updating netid.byname...

Updating protocols.bynumber...

Updating protocols.byname...

Updating mail.aliases...

gmake[1]: Leaving directory `/var/yp/LINUX-NIS'

nissrv1 has been set up as a NIS master server.

Now we can run ypinit -s nissrv1 on all slave servers (If we have any slave NIS servers).


Note: Make sure portmap is running before trying this step or you'll get errors, such as:

failed to send 'clear' to local ypserv: RPC: Port mapper failureUpdating group.bygid... 

You will have to delete the /var/yp/LINUX-NIS directory and restart portmap, yppasswd, and ypserv before you'll be able to do this again successfully.


Start The ypbind and ypxfrd Daemons:


On Redhat, you can now start the ypbind and the ypxfrd daemons because the NIS domain had been initialized and the files have been created.

[root@nissrv1]# /etc/init.d/ypbind start

Binding to the NIS domain: [  OK  ]

Listening for an NIS domain server.

[root@nissrv1]# /etc/init.d/ypxfrd start

Starting YP map server: [  OK  ]

[root@nissrv1]# chkconfig ypbind on

[root@nissrv1]# chkconfig ypxfrd on

Verify the Daemons Are Running:

All the NIS daemons use RPC port mapping and, therefore, are listed using the rpcinfo command when they are running correctly.

[root@nissrv1]# rpcinfo -p localhost

    program vers proto   port

    100000    2   tcp    111  portmapper

    100000    2   udp    111  portmapper

    100003    2   udp   2049  nfs

    100003    3   udp   2049  nfs

    100021    1   udp   1024  nlockmgr

    100021    3   udp   1024  nlockmgr

    100021    4   udp   1024  nlockmgr

    100004    2   udp    784  ypserv

    100004    1   udp    784  ypserv

    100004    2   tcp    787  ypserv

    100004    1   tcp    787  ypserv

    100009    1   udp    798  yppasswdd

 600100069    1   udp    850  fypxfrd

 600100069    1   tcp    852  fypxfrd

    100007    2   udp    924  ypbind

    100007    1   udp    924  ypbind

    100007    2   tcp    927  ypbind

    100007    1   tcp    927  ypbind

Adding New NIS Users:

New NIS users can be created by logging into the NIS server and creating the new user account. Edit passwd and shadow files on NIS directory to add user accounts. Once this is complete, you then have to update the NIS domain's authentication files by executing the make command in the /var/yp directory.


This procedure makes all NIS-enabled, nonprivileged accounts become automatically accessible via NIS, not just newly created ones. It also exports all the user's characteristics stored in the passwd and group files, such as the login shell, the user's group, and home directory.


You can check to see if the user's authentication information has been updated by using the ypmatch command, which should return the user's encrypted password string.

[root@nissrv1]# ypmatch nisuser passwd

nisuser:$1$d6E2i79Q$wp3Eo0Qw9nFD/::504:100::/home/nisuser:/bin/bash

You can also use the getent command, which has similar syntax. Unlike ypmatch, getent doesn't provide an encrypted password when run on an NIS server, it just provides the user's entry in the passwd file. On a NIS client, the results are identical with both showing the encrypted password.

[root@nissrv1]# getent passwd nisuser

nisuser:x:504:100::/home/nisuser:/bin/bash

Now you are ready to go with your new NIS domain. Enjoy..!