Mac OS X Server: Binding Local NetInfo Database To An NIS Domain

Note: Configuration of Mac OS X Server as an NIS client is not supported by Apple. This document is provided as is with no warranty. Screen shots in this document depict Mac OS X Server versions 1.x, though this information also applies to versions 10.x of Mac OS X Server. The loginwindow process in Mac OS X 10.2 or later only supports Directory Services, so 10.2 clients bound to an NIS master will not be able to log in at the Login Window.

This article assumes knowledge of NetInfo and its structure. For more information on NetInfo, please read the following article:

Article 60038: "Mac OS X Server: What Is NetInfo?"

Article 60038 also contains instructions on backing up the database which should be done before continuing.

For Mac OS X Server to bind to an NIS domain, the /etc/hostconfig file must be changed and lookupd must be configured to use NIS. The user must be logged in as root, or be a member of the wheel group in order to make these changes.

Edit the hostconfig file

Open the /etc/hostconfig file with TextEdit or a command line text editor. Find the "NISDOMAIN" entry. This is set to "-NO-" by default. Remove "-NO-" and type in the NIS domain name that the computer will bind to. This information can be obtained from the NIS administrator.

Configure lookupd

To properly configure lookupd to use NIS directories, properties, and values must be added to NetInfo. For a description of how these are used in NetInfo read article 60038, mentioned above.

Open /System/Administration/NetInfoManager. The window that opens will be for the local NetInfo domain. (See Figure 1.) In this window find the "Directory Browser" heading in the top left corner of the window. Below this heading are three columns, that show the directories contained in NetInfo. In the middle column select the "locations" directory and click the new directory button. A "new_directory" is created.

In the lower half of the NetInfo window two columns are listed, "Property" and "Value(s)". Change "new_directory" in the value column by double clicking on it and typing lookupd. The window should now look like Figure 1.

Figure 1: NetInfo window.

You will not be prompted to save the changes until another directory in NetInfo is selected. Save the changes when prompted. After the changes are saved, another dialog box will appear asking for confirmation of the update. Click "Update this copy" for the changes to be finalized.

Now the correct properties and values must be added to the lookupd directory. In the lower half of the window click "lookupd" under the Property column; the entire line is now selected. Open the "Directory" menu from the menubar. It is now possible to edit properties and values. Until this line was selected the options in this menu were dimmed.

Use Figure 2 as a guide to add the properties and values to the lookupd subdirectory.

Figure 2: NetInfo window with properties and values filled in.

Now the lookupd directory has the properties and values that it needs. To finish the configuration, subdirectories for "users", "groups", "hosts", and "netgroups" must be added to the lookupd directory. These directories also need properties and values. If any of these subdirectories are not added NIS will not be consulted for this information. Use Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 as a guide for adding the new subdirectories, properties, and values. The computer must be restarted for the changes to take effect.

Figure 3: NetInfo window; users directory.

Figure 4: NetInfo window; groups directory.

Figure 5: NetInfo window; hosts directory.

Figure 6: NetInfo window; netgroups directory.