Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

ypserv

Synopsis

                  ypserv [options]

NFS/NIS command. NIS server process. ypserv is a daemon process typically activated at system startup time. It runs only on NIS server machines with a complete NIS database. Its primary function is to look up information in its local database of NIS maps. The operations performed by ypserv are defined for the implementor by the NIS protocol specification, and for the programmer by the header file <rpcvc/yp_prot.h>. Communication to and from ypserv is by means of RPC calls. On startup or when receiving the signal SIGHUP, ypserv parses the file /etc/ypserv.conf. ypserv supports securenets, which can be used to restrict access to a given set of hosts.

Options

-b, --dns

Query the DNS service for host information if not found in the hosts maps.

-d [path], --debug [path]

Run in debugging mode without going into background mode, and print extra status messages to standard error for each request. If path is specified, use it instead of /var/yp.

-p port, --port port

Bind to the specified port. For use with a router to filter packets so that access from outside hosts can be restricted.

-v, --version

Print version information and exit.

Files and directories

/etc/yp.conf

Configuration file.

/var/yp/[domainname]/

Location of NIS databases.

/var/yp/Makefile

Makefile that is responsible for creating NIS databases.

/var/yp/securenets

securenets information containing netmask/network pairs separated by whitespace.