Further Considerations When Using the yppasswd Daemon

If you chose to use a password file other than /etc/passwd to build the passwd map (see Customizing NIS Map Input), you must specify to the yppasswdd daemon the path to that file. By default, the yppasswdd daemon changes passwords for entries in the /etc/passwd file. To change the default password file to another file, do the following:

  1. Edit the /etc/rc.nfs file, and locate the following stanza:
    #Uncomment the following lines to start up the NIS
    #yppasswd daemon.
    DIR=/etc
    if [ -x /usr/etc/rpc.yppasswdd -a -f $DIR/passwd ]; then
            start rpc.yppasswdd /usr/lib/netsvc/yp/rpc.yppasswdd
            /etc/passwd ~m
    fi
  2. Change the DIR statement so that it specifies the path to your alternate passwd file. For example, if you use the /var/yp/passwd file, the DIR statement should look like:
    DIR=/var/yp
  3. Save the file and exit the editor.
  4. Enter the following three commands:
    stopsrc -s yppasswdd
    chssys -s yppasswdd -a '/var/yp/passwd -m passwd'
    startsrc -s yppasswdd

The yppasswdd daemon will now use your alternate password file.