Network Information Service (NIS) B.11.31.04 Administrator's Guide

Editing the group File for Compat Mode
• HP recommends you to remove all groups from the /etc/group file except the
group entries required for your system to boot and function properly.
• The /etc/nsswitch.nis file is the Name Service Switch configuration file
provided for the NIS server. The /etc/nsswitch.nis file allows your host to
check its local /etc/group file and then continue to the NIS group map if the
requested information is not in the local file.
If you want your host to check its local /etc/group file and then continue to the
NIS group map, add the following entry as the last line in the /etc/group file:
+:::
Ensure that you specify compat as the name service for the group entries in the
/etc/nsswitch.conf file.
The plus sign (+) causes processes to consult the NIS server for any group
information not found in the local /etc/group file.
The changes you make to the /etc/group file on an NIS slave server are the same
changes you make on an NIS client. The following display is an example of the
/etc/group file on an NIS client:
root::0:rootl,sam
other::1:
bin::2:
sys::3:
adm::4:
daemon::5:
mail::6:
lp::7:
+:*:*
For more information about the /etc/group file, see group((4)).
Logging in Issue with NIS in Compat Mode
This section suggests a method to correct a common logging in problem encountered
with NIS in the compat mode.
If you are using the NIS compat mode, ensure that the NIS escape entry in the /etc/
passwd file on the client does not contain an asterisk in the password field.
For example, on HP systems, the NIS escape entry in the /etc/passwd file is:
+::::::
Editing the group File for Compat Mode 75