Preface

NIS+ Transition Guide describes how to convert a site running the network information service (NIS) name service to one running the network information service plus (NIS+) name service. 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 experienced system and network administrators who want to convert their site from NIS to NIS+. For information on configuring NIS+, see Name Services Configuration Guide. For NIS+ customizing information and detailed administration instructions, see Name Services Administration Guide.

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

How This Book Is Organized

This book contains six chapters:

Chapter 1, "Introduction," describes the differences between NIS and NIS+ features and an overview of the suggested transition process.

Chapter 2, "Designing the NIS+ Namespace," discusses how to design your NIS+ namespace.

Chapter 3, "Selecting NIS+ Security Measures," describes the NIS+ security features and the effects they have on administration and transition planning.

Chapter 4, "Using NIS-Compatibility Mode," describes how to run NIS and NIS+ clients concurrently and NIS+ servers in NIS-compatibility mode.

Chapter 5, "Prerequisites to Transition," presents the steps that you need to take before beginning the actual transition.

Chapter 6, "Implementing the Transition," lists the steps required to implement an NIS to NIS+ transition.

Related Books

You can consult the following for more information on NIS+ and DNS:

Name Services Configuration Guide--Describes how to plan for and configure an NIS+ namespace
Name Services Administration Guide--Describes how to administer a running NIS+ namespace and modify its security level
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

These books are also part of the Solaris 2.4 System and Network Administration manual set.

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.