Preface

The Name Services Configuration Guide describes how to configure the Network Information Service Plus (NIS+) and the Domain Name Service (DNS) name services on a network. It includes network planning instructions and a tutorial on how to use the NIS+ start-up scripts to easily configure a basic NIS+ namespace. The DNS chapters show you how to configure DNS clients and servers. This manual is part of the Solaris^(TM) 2.4 System and Network Administration manual set.

Who Should Use This Book

This manual is for system and network administrators who want to set up a basic network using NIS+ and or DNS. It assumes the reader is an experienced system administrator. For NIS+ customizing information and detailed administration instructions, see Name Services Administration Guide. For information on making the transition from NIS to NIS+, see the NIS+ Transition Guide.

Although this manual introduces some concepts relevant to NIS+ and DNS, it makes no attempt to explain networking fundamentals or to describe the administration tools offered by the Solaris environment. If you administer networks, this manual assumes you already know how they work and have already chosen your favorite tools.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into three parts, Part 1--NIS+ Concepts, Part 2--NIS+ Configuration Tutorial, and Part 3--DNS Concepts. Part 1 discusses basic name service and NIS+ concepts. Part 2 contains a tutorial on how to use the NIS+ scripts to configure an NIS+ namespace. Part 3 describes DNS structure and how to configure DNS clients and servers. There is an appendix containing templates for NIS+ planning worksheets, and a glossary.

Chapter 1, "Overview of Name Services," gives a quick description of name services, Network Information Service (NIS), Network Information Service Plus (NIS+) and Domain Name Service (DNS).

Part 1 -- NIS+ Concepts

Chapter 2, "Understanding Name Services," describes what name services do.

Chapter 3, "Understanding the NIS+ Namespace," describes the basic structure of an Network Information Service Plus namespace.

Chapter 4, "Understanding NIS+ Tables and Information," describes the structure and contents of the NIS+ tables.

Chapter 5, "Understanding the Name Service Switch," describes the software and files that determine which information sources the name services use.

Part 2 -- NIS+ Configuration Tutorial

Chapter 6, "Getting Started with NIS+," describes the NIS+ scripts and the minimum requirements of an NIS+ namespace.

Chapter 7, "Setting Up NIS+," takes you step-by-step through the configuring of an NIS+ namespace using the NIS+ scripts.

Part 3 -- DNS Concepts

Chapter 8, "DNS Structure,"describes the structure of the Domain Name Service.

Chapter 9, "Setting Up DNS Clients," describes how to configure a DNS client.

Chapter 10, "Setting Up DNS Servers," describes how to configure a DNS server.

Appendices

Appendix A, "Pre-Setup Worksheets," contains blank worksheets that you can use to determine your domain and server requirements.

"Glossary" is a list of words and phrases found in this book and their definitions.

Related Books

You can consult the following for more information on NIS+ and DNS. These books are also part of the Solaris 2.4 System and Network Administration manual set:

• Name Services Administration Guide--Describes how to administer a running NIS+ namespace, modify its security level, and otherwise customize your namespace.
• NIS+ Transition Guide--Describes how to make the transition from NIS to NIS+.
• Network Interfaces Programmer's Guide--Describes the application programming interfaces for networks including NIS+.
• man Pages(1M): System Administration Commands--Contains the man pages for the NIS+ commands.
• Administration Application Reference Manual--Describes the administration tool window interface for modifying the data in NIS+ tables.
• TCP/IP Network Administration Guide--Describes the TCP/IP network protocol and how to use the TCP/IP software.

Additional books not part of the Solaris 2.4 manual set:

• DNS and Bind by Cricket Liu and Paul Albitz, O'reilly & Associates, Inc., 1992.
• Managing NFS and NIS by Hal Stern, O'reilly & Associates, Inc., 1991.

What Typographic Changes and Symbols Mean

Table P-1 describes the type changes and symbols used in this book.

Table P-1

Typeface or Symbol	Meaning	Example
AaBbCc123	The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output	Edit your .login file. Use ls -a to list all files. system% You have mail.
AaBbCc123	What you type, contrasted with on-screen computer output	system%su Password:
AaBbCc123	Command-line placeholder: replace with a real name or value	To delete a file, type rm filename.
AaBbCc123	Book titles, new words or terms, or words to be emphasized	Read Chapter 6 in User's Guide. These are called class options. You must be root to do this.
Code samples are included in boxes and may display the following:
%	UNIX C shell prompt	system%
$	UNIX Bourne and Korn shell prompt	system$
#	Superuser prompt, all shells	system#

In the AnswerBook^(R) on-line documentation tool, double-clicking on a cross reference takes you to the page on which it begins.