Mac OS X: How to Set Up NetInfo Binding

You can configure NetInfo binding by using the Directory Access application (or Directory Setup prior to v10.2). Follow these steps:

1. Open Directory Access (/Applications/Utilities/).
2. If necessary, click the Lock button to authenticate.
3. Click the Services tab.
4. Select NetInfo in the list of services, then click Configure.
5. Select the binding protocols that you want the computer to use (broadcast, DHCP, or specific server). If you use the specific server option, enter the IP address of the parent server in the Server Address field, and the parent domain's NetInfo tag in the Server Tag field.
6. Click OK, then click Apply.
7. Restart the computer.

If the client computer is set to log in automatically with a specific account, then log out to log back in as a NetInfo User. You may need to set the client login option for name and password entry.

Additional information

A Mac OS X computer can bind to a shared NetInfo domain by using any combination of three protocols: static, broadcast, or DHCP. If you configure a computer to use multiple binding protocols and a parent is not located with one protocol, another one is used. The protocols are used in this order: static, DHCP, broadcast.

• With static binding, you specify the address and NetInfo tag of the shared NetInfo domain. This is most commonly used when the shared domain's computer is not on the same IP subnet as the computer that needs to access it.
  
• With DHCP binding, a DHCP server automatically supplies the address and NetInfo tag of the shared NetInfo domain. To use DHCP binding, the DHCP server must be configured to supply a NetInfo parent's address and tag.
  
• With broadcast binding, the computer locates a shared NetInfo domain by sending out an IP broadcast request. The computer hosting the shared domain responds with its address and tag. For broadcast binding:
  • Both computers must be on the same IP subnet or on a network that is configured for IP broadcast forwarding.
  • The parent domain must have the NetInfo tag "network".
  • The parent domain must have a machine record for each of its child domains.

Note: This information can be found beginning on page 106 of the Mac OS X Server Administrator's Guide. Please see the guide for additional related information. You may download it from Knowledge Base document 120174, "Mac OS X Server Admin Guide for Mac OS X 10.2.3: Manual".