Network Information Service Plus (NIS+)

NIS+ is the preferred network information service for Solaris networks. Solaris networks can also use NIS either as an alternative to NIS+ or as a supplement to NIS+.

NIS+ is a name service built on top of the ONC transport-independent remote procedure call (RPC) interface. NIS+ has significant benefits compared to NIS in the areas of security, performance, scalability, and administration. Some of the advantages of using NIS+ are:

• NIS+ shares data with the NIS environments, allowing a smooth migration.

• Domains are hierarchical; you can create subdomains.

• You can use the name service switch (/etc/nsswitch.conf) to set which name service a system will try to use first: NIS+, NIS, /etc, or DNS.

• You can use AdminSuite to make changes to NIS+ tables for adding, modifying, deleting, and searching for information.

• NIS+ enables you to create and maintain an enterprise-wide name service, even across geographically separated sites connected by WAN links.

• You can use the NIS+ backup and restore feature to quickly and easily preserve your name space data set. This feature can also be used to quickly bring additional replica servers on line.

See Chapter 13, Using Name Services, in this guide and NIS+ Transition Guide and NFS Administration Guide for more information.