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

ProcedureModifying the Name Service Switch

To change to a switch file, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the client as superuser.

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

    NIS+ Version (done automatically for you by NIS+ scripts)


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

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