Types of Keywords: Dependent and Independent

There are two types of keywords you use in the sysidcfg file: independent and dependent. Dependent keywords are guaranteed to be unique only within independent keywords. That is, a dependent keyword exists only when it is identified with its associated independent keyword.

In this example, name_service is the independent keyword, while domain_name and name_server are the dependent keywords:

name_service=NIS {domain_name=marquee.central.sun.com
name_server=connor(129.152.112.3)}