NIS+ Overview

NIS+ is a network name service similar to NIS but with more features. NIS+ is not an extension of NIS; it is a new software program.

NIS+ enables you to store information such as workstation addresses, security information, mail information, information about Ethernet interfaces, and network services in central locations where all workstations on a network can access it. This configuration of network information is referred to as the NIS+ namespace.

The NIS+ namespace is hierarchical, and is similar in structure to the UNIX^TM file system. The hierarchical structure allows a NIS+ namespace to be configured to conform to the logical hierarchy of an organization. The namespace's layout of information is unrelated to its physical arrangement. Thus, a NIS+ namespace can be divided into multiple domains that can be administered autonomously. Clients are allowed access to information in domains other than their own if they have the appropriate permissions.

NIS+ uses a client-server model to store and have access to the information contained in an NIS+ namespace. Each domain is supported by a set of servers. The principal server is called the master server and the backup servers are called replicas. The network information is stored in 16 standard NIS+ tables in an internal NIS+ database. Both master and replica servers run NIS+ server software and both maintain copies of NIS+ tables. Changes made to the NIS+ data on the master server are incrementally and automatically propogated to the replicas.

NIS+ includes a sophisticated security system to protect the structure of the namespace and its information. It uses authentication and authorization to verify whether a client's request for information should be fulfilled. Authentication determines whether the information requestor is a valid user on the network. Authorization determines whether a particular user is allowed to have or modify the information requested.

Solaris clients use the name service switch (the /etc/nsswitch.conf file) to determine from where a workstation will retrieve network information. Such information may be stored in local /etc files, NIS, DNS, or NIS+. You can specify different sources for different types of information in the name service switch.

For a more thorough description of NIS+, see the Solaris Naming Administration Guide.