auto_master Table

The auto_master table lists all the automounter maps in a domain. For direct maps, the auto_master table provides a map name. For indirect maps, it provides both a map name and the top directory of its mount point. The auto_master table has two columns:

For example, assume these entries in the auto_master table:

/home auto_home
 /-auto_man
 /programs auto_programs

The first entry names the auto_home map. It specifies the top directory of the mount point for all entries in the auto_home map: /home. (The auto_home map is an indirect map.) The second entry names the auto_man map. Because that map is a direct map, the entry provides only the map name. The auto_man map will itself provide the topmost directory, as well as the full path name, of the mount points for each of its entries. The third entry names the auto_programs map and, since it provides the top directory of the mount point, the auto_programs map is an indirect map.

All automounter maps are stored as NIS+ tables. By default, the Solaris environment provides the auto_master map, which is mandatory, and the auto_home map, which is a great convenience.

You can create more automounter maps for a domain, but be sure to store them as NIS+ tables and list them in the auto_master table. When creating additional automount maps to supplement auto_master (which is created for you), the column names must be key and value. For more information about the automounter consult your automounter or NFS file system documentation.