User Configuration

While disconnected, do not access remote file systems: they are not available. This means that you should have a local home directory. You also need a local /etc/passwd entry so you can log in to the machine when disconnected.

Creating a Local Home Environment

To create a local home environment, use either admintool or useradd to specify a local /etc/passwd entry and a local home directory (/export/home/username is recommended).

If your site does not export a network /etc/passwd map through one of the name services, the /etc/passwd entry and home directory will be the only one associated with your username. This is the simplest user configuration.

However, if there is a entry for you in a network /etc/passwd database (i.e. one managed by NIS or NIS+), specify the same user and group id numbers (UID and GID respectively) for the local /etc/passwd entry as are specified in the network database, but specify a different path name for the home directory.

Specify the same UID and GID so that your files are accessible to you whether or not you are logged into the SPARCstation Voyager or another machine and whether or not you are working in a local or remote directory.

Do not specify the same path for the local home directory as for the home directory in the network version of /etc/passwd because the network path is not accessible when the machine is disconnected.

Managing Two Home Directories

When there are two home directories, always work in the local home directory on the SPARCstation Voyager. You may use the network home directory as a backup location. If that is not possible or desirable, you will have to take precautions to insure that the two copies of the home directory do not get out of synchronization.

Define the PATH Environment

Define the PATH environment variable so that it does not contain references to non-local (such as NFS mounted) directories.

To assure that commonly accessed application programs and tools are always available, install them in local directories designated by the PATH variable.

You can initiate infrequently referenced remote programs by specifying the full path name for the command.

You can access remote programs you use more frequently by creating symbolic links to them in local directories specified in the PATH variable, or by creating shell aliases for them.

Define the MANPATH Environment

A MANPATH environment variable, if present, should avoid references to non-local directories.