Install, Configure and Use Linux NIS Server

Introduction

The Linux NIS server (Network Information Service) is a server used for sharing critical data stored in flat files between systems on a network, it is often ideal to have a common repository (such as NIS) for storing user and group information that is traditionally stored in flat files like /etc/passwd.

By making such files available via the NIS server, that would allow any remote NIS client machine to access or query the data in these shared files and use them as extensions to the local versions.

NIS is not limited to sharing files. Any tabular file which at least has one column with a unique value can be shared via NIS like /etc/services file.

The main benefit from using NIS server is that you keep your data and files, and if your data is updated, all updates be propagated to all users.

The following list is the list of services and tools that are used by NIS client/server:

ypserv: This service waits for queries and gives answers to NIS clients.

ypbind: This is client-side of NIS.

ypxfrd: This service is used for sending the NIS databases from master MIS servers to slave servers(not Used for time being as we are not using Master Slave Configuration).

yp-tools-2.14-5.el7.x86_64.rpm : This package is intsalled with ypbind.

xinetd-2.3.15-13.el7.x86_64.rpm: Prerequisiste package.

tokyocabinet-1.4.48-3.el7.x86_64.rpm : Prerequisiste package.

Installing Linux NIS Server/NIS Client:

rpm -ivh xinetd-2.3.15-13.el7.x86_64.rpm

rpm -ivh yp-tools-2.14-5.el7.x86_64.rpm

ypbind-1.37.1-9.el7.x86_64.rpm

rpm -ivh tokyocabinet-1.4.48-3.el7.x86_64.rpm

rpm -ivh ypserv-2.31-10.el7.x86_64.rpm

Configuring NIS Client 

1) /etc/yp.conf

domain cdotd server <<IP of NIS Server>>

ypserver <<IP os NIS server>>

2) /etc/sysconfig/network

NETWORKING=yes

HOSTNAME=dellSrv_42 (self hostname )

NISDOMAIN=cdotd (same as yp.conf)

3) /etc/nssswitch.conf

passwd: nis files sss

shadow: nis files sss

group: nis files sss

Running NIS Client

systemctl start xinetd.service

systemctl start ypbind.service

systemctl start yppasswdd.service

Note : Please check the following service are also running Via Setup utility in Linux (#setup).

Testing of NIS Client

ypwhich: gets the name of the Linux NIS server that is responding to your requests.

Configuring NIS Server

To run on Master NIS server

/usr/lib64/yp/ypinit -m

systemctl start ypserv.service

systemctl start yppasswdd .service

systemctl start rpcbind.service

systemctl start xinetd.service

Testing of NIS server

1) Add a user in NIS server

adduser rahul

passwd rahul

2) Add user in NIS server after that run the following command

make -C /var/yp

3) Make necessary changes in the NIS client files namely (/etc/yp.conf , /etc/nssswitch.conf , /etc/sysconfig/network) as mentioned in the client section.

4) Login in from a third machine to NIS client with the set password .Login should be successful.