Configuring NIS under Red Hat Linux

The following describes a procedure to set up NIS network name service under Red Hat Linux. This is geared toward a small intallation with only one domain. However, it should be fairly evident how to add more NIS domains. The NIS domain name has nothing to do with any DNS naming convention being used.

In these examples, the following conventions are used:

NIS domain: "internal"

Code or configuration file data: colored

Root prompt on NIS master server: master#

Root prompt on NIS client host: client#

Setting up a NIS master server:
Required packages: yp-tools ypbind ypserv portmap

Set up "time" service to run via inetd/xinetd, or configure xntpd, or otherwise make sure the host's clock is synchronized.

Edit /etc/yp.conf:domain internal server ip.of.nis.server


Edit /etc/ypserv.conf:dns:

no files: 30 xfr_check_port: yes * : * : shadow.byname : port * : * : passwd.adjunct.byname : port


Edit /etc/sysconfig/network:

NISDOMAIN="internal"


Set NIS domain name:master# domainname internal master# ypdomainname internal


Create file /var/yp/securenets:

host 127.0.0.1 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.0


Make sure the "portmap" service is running:master

# service portmap start master

# chkconfig portmap on


Portmap will need a rule in /etc/hosts.allow to allow access from localhost and any hosts that need to access NIS.

Start ypserv service:master

# service ypserv start


Check that it's listening:master

# rpcinfo -u localhost ypserv


You should see:program 100004 version 1 ready and waiting program 100004 version 2 ready and waiting


Initialize the NIS maps:master# /usr/lib/yp/ypinit -m


Specify local hostname, Ctrl-D, y, let finish.

Start up ypbind, yppasswdd, ypxfrd:master

# service ypbind start master

# service yppasswdd start master

# service ypxfrd start


Set YP services to run on boot-up:master

# chkconfig ypserv on master

# chkconfig ypbind on master

# chkconfig yppasswdd on master

# chkconfig ypxfrd on

NIS client host setup

Required packages: yp-tools ypbind portmap

Edit /etc/sysconfig/network:NISDOMAIN=internal


Edit /etc/yp.conf:domain internal server ip.of.master.server


Edit /etc/hosts:ip.of.master.server hostname.domain hostname


Set NIS domain-name:client# domainname internal client# ypdomainname internal


Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf:passwd: files nis shadow: files nis group: files nis


Make sure the portmap service is running:client# service portmap start client# chkconfig portmap on


The /etc/hosts.allow file will need rules allowing access from localhost and the NIS master server.

Start ypbind service:client# service ypbind start client# chkconfig ypbind on


Test it out:client

# rpcinfo -u localhost ypbind client

# ypcat passwd