Selecting a Different Configuration File

When you change a machine's naming service, you need to modify that machine's switch file accordingly. For example, if you change a machine's naming service from files to NIS, you need to install a switch file appropriate for NIS. You change switch files by copying the appropriate template file to nsswitch.conf.

Before proceeding to change switch files, make sure the sources listed in the file are properly set up. In other words, if you are going to select the NIS version, the client must eventually have access to NIS service. If you select the local files version, those files must be properly set up on the client.

How to Modify the Name Service Switch

To change to a switch file, follow these steps.

In order to use LDAP naming services, you must also properly configure all LDAP client machines, in addition to modifying the nsswitch.conf. See Chapter 12, Setting Up LDAP Clients (Tasks) for more information.

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

   Roles contain authorizations and privileged commands. For more information about roles, see Chapter 9, Using Role-Based Access Control (Tasks), in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

2. Copy the appropriate alternate file for the machine's naming service over the nsswitch.conf file.

   NIS Version

   client1# cd /etc client1# cp nsswitch.nis nsswitch.conf

   Local /etc Files Version

   client1# cd /etc client1# cp nsswitch.files nsswitch.conf

3. Reboot the machine.

   The nscd daemon caches switch information. See the nscd(1M) man page for information.

   Some library routines do not periodically check the nsswitch.conf file to see whether the file has been changed. You must reboot the machine to make sure that the daemon and those routines have the latest information in the file.