System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (NIS+)

Changing the NIS+ Keys

The following sections describe how to change the keys of an NIS+ principal.

Note –

Whenever you change a server's keys, you must also update the key information of all the clients in that domain as explained in Updating NIS+ Client Key Information.

Changing NIS+ Root Keys From Root

Table 13–2, shows how to change the keys for the root master server from the root master (as root).

Table 13–2 Changing an NIS+ Root Master's Keys: Command Summary


Tasks	Commands
Create new DES credentials	rootmaster# nisaddcred des
Find the NIS+ service	`rootmaster# svcs \nisplus\`
Stop the NIS+ service	`rootmaster# svcadm disable` `-t` `/network/rpc/nisplus:default`
Remove the `-S 0` security option	Edit the `/lib/svc/method/nisplus` file to remove the `-S 0` option
Restart NIS+ service with no security	`# svcadm enable network/rpc/nisplus`
Perform a keylogout (previous keylogin is now out of date)	`rootmaster# keylogout -f`
Update the keys in the directories served by the master	`rootmaster# nisupdkeys` `dirs`
Find the NIS+ service	`rootmaster# svcs \nisplus\`
Stop the NIS+ service	`rootmaster# svcadm disable` `-t` `/network/rpc/nisplus:default`
Add the `-S 0` security option	Edit the `/lib/svc/method/nisplus` file to add the `-S 0` option
Restart NIS+ daemon with default security	`# svcadm enable network/rpc/nisplus`
Perform a keylogin	`rootmaster# keylogin`

Where:

dirs are the directory objects you wish to update. (That is, the directory objects that are served by rootmaster.)

In the first step of the process outlined in Table 13–2, nisaddcred updates the cred table for the root master, updates /etc/.rootkey and performs a keylogin for the root master. At this point the directory objects served by the master have not been updated and their credential information is now out of synch with the root master. The subsequent steps described in Table 13–2 are necessary to successfully update all the objects.

Note –

Whenever you change a server's keys, you must also update the key information of all the clients in that domain as explained in Updating NIS+ Client Key Information.

Changing Root Keys From Another NIS+ Machine

To change the keys for the root master server from some other machine you must have the required NIS+ credentials and authorization to do so.

Table 13–3 Remotely Changing NIS+ Root Master Keys: Command Summary


Tasks	Commands
Create the new DES credentials	`othermachine% nisaddcred -p` `principal-P` `nisprincipal` `des`
Update the directory objects.	`othermachine% nisupdkeysdirs`
Update `/etc.rootkey.`	`othermachine% keylogin -r`
Reinitialize othermachine as client	`othermachine% nisinit -cH`

Where:

principal is the root machine's Secure RPC netname. For example:unix.rootmaster@doc.com (no dot at the end).
nis-principal is the root machine's NIS+ principal name. For example, rootmaster.doc.com. (a dot at the end).
dirs are the directory objects you want to update (that is, the directory objects that are served by rootmaster).

When running nisupdkeys be sure to update all relevant directory objects at the same time. In other words, do them all with one command. Separate updates may result in an authentication error.

Note –

Whenever you change a server's keys, you must also update the key information of all the clients in that domain as explained in Updating NIS+ Client Key Information.

Changing the Keys of an NIS+ Root Replica From the Replica

To change the keys of a root replica from the replica, use these commands:

replica# nisaddcred des
replica# nisupdkeys dirs

Where:

dirs are the directory objects you wish to update, (that is, the directory objects that are served by replica).

When running nisupdkeys be sure to update all relevant directory objects at the same time. In other words, do them all with one command. Separate updates may result in an authentication error.

Note –

Whenever you change a server's keys, you must also update the key information of all the clients in that domain as explained in Updating NIS+ Client Key Information.

Changing the Keys of an NIS+ Non-Root Server

To change the keys of a non-root server (master or replica) from the server, use these commands:

subreplica# nisaddcred des
subreplica# nisupdkeys parentdir dirs

Where:

parentdir is the non-root server's parent directory (that is, the directory containing subreplica's NIS+ server).
dirs are the directory objects you want to update (that is, the directory objects that are served by subreplica).

When running nisupdkeys be sure to update all relevant directory objects at the same time. In other words, do them all with one command. Separate updates may result in an authentication error.

Note –

Whenever you change a server's keys, you must also update the key information of all the clients in that domain, as explained in Updating NIS+ Client Key Information.