UPDATERS(5) File Formats and Configurations UPDATERS(5)

NAME

updaters - configuration file for NIS updating

SYNOPSIS

/var/yp/updaters

DESCRIPTION

The file /var/yp/updaters is a makefile (see make(1S)) which is used
for updating the Network Information Service (NIS) databases.
Databases can only be updated in a secure network, that is, one that
has a publickey(5) database. Each entry in the file is a make target
for a particular NIS database. For example, if there is an NIS
database named passwd.byname that can be updated, there should be a
make target named passwd.byname in the updaters file with the command
to update the file.


The information necessary to make the update is passed to the update
command through standard input. The information passed is described
below (all items are followed by a NEWLINE except for 4 and 6):

1.
Network name of client wishing to make the update (a string).


2.
Kind of update (an integer).


3.
Number of bytes in key (an integer).


4.
Actual bytes of key.


5.
Number of bytes in data (an integer).


6.
Actual bytes of data.


After receiving this information through standard input, the command
to update the particular database determines whether the user is
allowed to make the change. If not, it exits with the status
YPERR_ACCESS. If the user is allowed to make the change, the command
makes the change and exits with a status of zero. If there are any
errors that may prevent the updaters from making the change, it
should exit with the status that matches a valid NIS error code
described in <rpcsvc/ypclnt.h>.

FILES

/var/yp/updaters
The makefile used for updating the NIS
databases.

SEE ALSO

make(1S), publickey(5), rpc.ypupdated(8)

NOTES

The Network Information Service (NIS) was formerly known as Sun
Yellow Pages (YP). The functionality of the two remains the same;
only the name has changed. The name Yellow Pages is a registered
trademark in the United Kingdom of British Telecommunications plc,
and may not be used without permission.

October 24, 1996 UPDATERS(5)