Managing NFS & NIS 2e: Covers Nfs Version 3 - Softcover

Stern, Hal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1565925106 ISBN 13: 9781565925106

Publisher: O′Reilly, 2001

Synopsis

A modern computer system that's not part of a network is even more of an anomaly today than it was when we published the first edition of this book in 1991. But however widespread networks have become, managing a network and getting it to perform well can still be a problem.Managing NFS and NIS, in a new edition based on Solaris 8, is a guide to two tools that are absolutely essential to distributed computing environments: the Network Filesystem (NFS) and the Network Information System (formerly called the "yellow pages" or YP).The Network Filesystem, developed by Sun Microsystems, is fundamental to most Unix networks. It lets systems ranging from PCs and Unix workstations to large mainframes access each other's files transparently, and is the standard method for sharing files between different computer systems.As popular as NFS is, it's a "black box" for most users and administrators. Updated for NFS Version 3, Managing NFS and NIS offers detailed access to what's inside, including:

• How to plan, set up, and debug an NFS network
• Using the NFS automounter
• Diskless workstations
• PC/NFS
• A new transport protocol for NFS (TCP/IP)
• New security options (IPSec and Kerberos V5)
• Diagnostic tools and utilities
• NFS client and server tuning

NFS isn't really complete without its companion, NIS, a distributed database service for managing the most important administrative files, such as the passwd file and the hosts file. NIS centralizes administration of commonly replicated files, allowing a single change to the database rather than requiring changes on every system on the network.If you are managing a network of Unix systems, or are thinking of setting up a Unix network, you can't afford to overlook this book.

About this title

Review:

Cross-platform file sharing under Network File System (NFS) is so reliable that in most organisations, it works pretty much unattended. Ditto for the directory services that Network Information System (NIS) provides. Managing NFS and NIS is for people who want to know more about how NFS and NIS do their vital work, and how to make them operate in unusual circumstances. Focused on the Solaris and Linux implementations of NFS and NIS, this book is ideal for the UNIX system administrator who's familiar with TCP/IP networking and everyday system administration. The second edition of this book eliminates much of the programming material that appeared in its predecessor and replaces it with information on NFS 3, its support of IPSec and Kerberos security, and its operation under Solaris 8.

This is a blue O'Reilly book, packed to the gunwales with information of interest to people in a hurry to optimise their systems and resolve difficulties. It's easy to locate the passage you need via the index or through the table of contents, and most entries provide a great mix of how-to material (in the form of input-and-output listings) and explanatory text (expert commentary, often with notes on applicable variations). If there's a command, option, or configuration parameter associated with NIS or NFS, you'll find documentation of it here. --David Wall

Topics covered: Network File System (NFS) and Network Information System (NIS) for UNIX machines, especially Solaris (through version 8) and Linux (through version 2.2). Automounting, security, diskless workstations, and performance tuning are among the many details the authors address.

Review:

"If you administrate a collection of Unix systems of any flavour then buy this book. There will always be something of interest that will make your Unix network easier to use and manage - guaranteed. If your network involves NT interconnectivity then still buy it but read the opinion on PCNFS verses SAMBA with an open mind." - Jon Wilks, Cvu, June 2002

About this edition

• Publisher: O′Reilly
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1565925106
• ISBN 13: 9781565925106
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 512