NeXTstep 3.3

NextAdmin		 Network and
System Administration Manual

Updated 2000.01.28.0251


Well here you go folks the NEXTSTEP 3.3 Network and System Administration Manual online. The bulk of the conversion was done using LatinByrd III by Stefan Schneider Software. I by hand made the index.html page your viewing now. And so far I know I've spent about 13 hours working on it. It still isn't finished. I have determined page numbers by previewing the printed output from the origional rtf's so the actual page numbers may be inaccurate. Also I still have not finished adding the direct links to the sections from chapter 6 through the end. Perhaps someone else will get the urge to finish this and e-mail me the changes before I get to it. Anywa enjoy - maybe someday in the future I'll use this manual as a template to add further articles and links. If anyone gets some interest in doing this please e-mail me.

One thing to note is that the chapters are single html files with images. The sizes are no more than 500Kb. Of last note. If anyone from NeXT makes their way here and Apple/NeXT wishes these pages removed they only have to contact me directly to make the request I will comply albeit reluctantly since few would care about this material and it took my time to make the conversion.


Contents

1
Chapter 1: Using This Manual to Plan Your Network
1 How to Use This Manual
2 Planning Your Network
3 Determining Equipment Needs
4 Cabling
4 Thin Ethernet Cable
4 Twisted-Pair Ethernet Cable
5 Networking Equipment
5 Peripherial Devices
6 Additional Hard Disks
6 Printers
6 Modems
6 Graphics Tablets
6 Determining Which Servers are Needed
7 NetInfo Services
7 File Services
8 Print Services
8 Mail Services
8 FAX Modem Services
8 Combining Resources
9 Network Connectivity
10 Considering Security
10 For More Information
11 NeXTanswers
12 Technical Support

12
Chapter 2: Setting Up a NetInfo Network
14 Making a Plan
15 Setting Up the Master NetInfo Server
17 Setting Options
18 Setting Up File Services
19 Building the Network
20 Setting Up Other Servers
21 Adding Other Hosts
21 Testing the Network
22 Adding Users
25 Maintenance Planning
26 Troubleshooting
26 Multiple Computers Can't Access a Shared Directory
26 One or More Computers Aren't Communicating with the Network
26 Mail Messages Aren't Being Delivered Properly
27 Unexpected Messages Appear During Automatic Host Addition
27 Recovering from Catastrophic Failure

28
Chapter 3: NetInfo Networking
28 Enabling Automatic Host Addition
30 Disabling Automatic Host Addition
30 Adding New Hosts to the Network
31 Automatically Adding a New Host
31 Manually Adding a New Host
31 Determining the Ethernet Address
32 Creating the Host Entry
34 Adding a Modified Host
35 Automatically Adding a Modified Host
35 Manually Adding a Modified Host
37 Deleting a Host from the Network
39 Adding Host Aliases and Netgroups
41 Configuring Network Time Service
41 Choosing Time Servers
41 Enabling Time Service
42 Designating Time Servers
44 Disabling Time Service
44 Using the Network
44 Remote Application Execution
44 Executing an Application on a Remote Computer
44 Executing an Application on the Local Computer
45 Using OpenSesame
45 Examining the NetInfo Database
45 NetInfo Tools
45 The Manager Applications
46 NetInfo UNIX Utilities
46 Using NetInfoManager
46 Precautions
47 NetInfo Directories
48 Properties and Values
51 Viewing Directories
52 NetInfo Domains
54 Naming Conventions
54 Multiple Domains
58 Underlying Data Files and Processes
58 The /etc/netinfo Directory
59 The /etc/hostconfig File
60 NetInfo Server Processes
61 Troubleshooting
61 Automatic Host Addition Problems
61 NetInfo Directory Problems
62 Network Communication Problems
63 Replacing a Corrupted NetInfo Database

64
Chapter 4: Setting Up the Network File System
64 Exporting File Systems to the Network
64 Planning Shared Files
64 Directories
64 Access
65 Access as root
65 Unknown Users
65 Setting Up an NFS Server
68 Importing Network File Systems
68 Planning Mount Options
68 NetInfo Domain
69 Mount Point
69 Automatic Mount
69 Foreground or Background
69 Interruptible Mount
69 Setuid Files
69 Importing a Remote Directory
73 Examining the NetInfo Database
73 Export Information
75 Mount Information
78 The /locations Directory
80 Troubleshooting

81
Chapter 5: Managing User Accounts and User Groups
81 Managing User Accounts
81 Planning User Accounts
81 Local or Network Accounts
81 User Names
82 User IDs
82 Home Directories
82 User Groups
82 Passwords
82 Standard User Accounts
83 The root Account
83 Using the su Command
84 Adding a User Account
90 Modifying a User Account
92 Deleting a User Account
93 Changing Local Accounts to Network-Wide Accounts
93 Creating the Network Account
94 Deleting the Local Account
94 Managing User Groups
94 User Group Components
94 Group Name
94 Group ID
95 Group Members
95 Standard Groups
95 Adding a User Group
97 Deleting a User Group
98 Identifying Accounts with a Particular Default Group
100 Adding Multiple Users to a User Group
103 Changing Local User Groups to Network-Wide Groups
103 Creating the Network User Group
105 Deleting the Local Group
105 Examining the NetInfo Database
106 Changing the root Password of a Domain
107 Advanced User Management
108 User Templates
108 Creating a New User Template
110 Modifying a User Template
110 Language-Specific Home Directory Modification
110 Language Localized Files
110 Language Localized Defaults
111 UserManager Defaults
111 Setting Defaults
113 Creating and Deleting Multiple Users
113 Creating Multiple Accounts
115 Deleting Multiple Accounts
116 Program Hooks
116 Hook Basics
117 Setting a Program Hook
118 A Hook Example
119 Troubleshooting

121
Chapter 6: Managing Electronic Mail
121 Setting Up the Mail Server
121 Adding a Host Alias
123 Exporting the Mail Directories
124 Importing the Mail Directories
127 Modifying the Root Domain /locations Directory
130 Modifying the Local Domain /locations Directory
132 Updating Pictures and Aliases
132 Examining the NetInfo Database
136 Creating Mail Aliases
140 Adding Pictures for Users
140 Troubleshooting

142
Chapter 7: Attaching Peripherals
142 Adding a SCSI Disk
142 Installing an Additional SCSI Disk
143 Making a Mount Entry for a Hard Disk
144 Building a Bootable Disk
147 Building a Swap Disk
147 Attaching a Printer
147 Attaching and Configuring Printers
147 Setting Baud Rate and Flow Control
147 Flow Control
148 Setting the Printer Baud Rate and Flow Control
148 Attaching Modems
148 Modem Hardware
149 Configuring a Modem for tip and UUCP Software
149 Enabling Dial-out Capability
149 Enabling Dial-in Capability
150 Installing a Graphics Tablet
150 Disabling or Removing the Tablet
150 Troubleshooting
150 Disk Troubleshooting
151 Printer Troubleshooting
152 Modem Troubleshooting
152 Graphics Tablet Troubleshooting

153
Chapter 8: Managing System Backups
153 Backup Strategies
154 What to Back Up
154 Ways to Back Up
155 The dump and restore Programs
155 Using dump
156 Examples Using dump
157 Using restore
157 Examples Using restore
158 The rdump and rrestore Programs
158 Examples Using rdump and rrestore
159 The tar Program
160 Examples Using tar
160 The cpio Program
160 Examples Using cpio
161 General Tips
161 Troubleshooting
162 Messages from dump and restore
162 Messages from rdump and rrestore
162 Messages from tar
162 Messages from cpio

163
Chapter 9: System Startup and Shutdown
163 Starting Up an Intel-based Computer
165 Starting Up a NeXT Computer
165 Using the ROM Monitor
166 Inspecting or Modifying Configuration Parameters
166 Boot Command
166 DRAM Tests
166 Power-on System Test
167 Boot Extended Diagnostics
167 Alternate Console
167 Password-protected Commands
167 Parity Checking
168 Booting from a Device
169 Setting the Hardware Password
169 Displaying the Memory Configuration
169 Displaying Error Codes
169 Ejecting Optical Disks
170 Ejecting Floppy Disks
170 Resuming Execution
170 Using the NMI Mini-Monitor
170 Resuming Execution
171 Exiting to the Debugger
171 Displaying the Kernel Message Buffer
171 Exiting to the ROM Monitor
171 Rebooting the System
171 Retaining the NMI Window
171 Enlarging the NMI Window
172 Resetting the State of the Kernel Debugger
172 Running init and the rc Scripts
173 The rc Scripts
174 /etc/rc.boot
174 /etc/rc
174 /etc/rc.net
174 /etc/rc.swap
174 /etc/rc.local
174 /etc/rc.cdrom
174 /etc/rc.uucp
174 Customizing Login and Logout
176 Shutting Down the System
177 Shutting Down with the Power Button or Power Key
177 Shutting Down with UNIX Command
178 Shutting Down with NMI Mini-Monitor
178 Shutting Down with Restart/Power-Off Panel
178 Emergency Shutdown
179 Troubleshooting
179 Error Messages from fsck
179 Running fsck
180 System Boot and Network Startup Errors
180 NetInfo Errors
181 System Boot Errors

182
Chapter 10: Configuring a Large Network
182 Background
183 Binding
183 The serves Property
186 Example master and serves Properties
187 netinfod Startup and Binding
188 Planning
188 Consideration for Subnets
188 Previewing the Result
189 Information Access
189 From Two to Three Domain Levels
189 Two Two-Level Networks
190 One Three-Level Networks
191 Directories of the New Root Domain
191 The name and ip_address Properties
192 The serves Property of the /machines Subdirectories
192 Summary and Review
192 The /admin and /sales Domains
193 The master Property of the /admin Domain
193 The /machines Subdirectories
193 The serves Properties
194 Comparing the /admin and /sales Domains
194 Migrating Resources to the New Root Domain
195 Overview of Procedures
195 Starting from Scratch
195 Multiple Existing Networks
196 Single Existing Networks
196 Building the Hierarchy
196 Configuring Routing and Setting a Netmask
196 Using SimpleNetworkStarter
198 Using HostManager
199 Creating a New Root Domain
199 Creating the Top-level Domain
201 Incorporating Midlevel Domains
201 Creating New Midlevel Domain
201 Creating a Midlevel Domain
203 Transferring Host Entries to Midlevel Domains
204 Making the Midlevel Domain Server a Configuration Server
205 Transferring Host Entries to the Root Domain
205 Transferring the Host Entries
206 Deleting serves Properties
207 Deleting Host Entries
208 Creating Clone Servers
209 Transferring NetInfo Data
209 Troubleshooting
209 Binding Problems
210 Routing Messages
210 Communication Problems
211 Netmask Problems

212
Chapter 11: NEXTSTEP Computers in a Mixed Network
212 UNIX Networks
212 Planning
212 Network Services
213 Existing UNIX Administration
213 NetInfo Administration
213 Combined Administration
214 Setting Up the NEXTSTEP Computers
217 Setting Up Consistent Administrative Data
217 Host Information
218 User Account and Group Information
218 Preparing NeXT User Accounts
220 Combining User and Group Information
221 Mail Aliases
222 Shared Files
222 Sharing a NEXTSTEP File
222 Sharing a Non-NEXTSTEP File
222 Mail Service
222 Using a Non-NEXTSTEP Mail Server
225 Using a NEXTMail Server
225 Printers
226 Using a Non-NEXTSTEP Printer from a NEXTSTEP Computer
226 Using a NEXTSTEP Printer from a Non-NEXTSTEP Computer
227 Maintaining Consistent Administrative Data
227 Distributing Data from NetInfo to Multiple Non-NEXTSTEP Computers
228 Distributing Data from NetInfo to a Non-NEXTSTEP Information Server
228 Distributing Data from NetInfo to NIS
229 Using a NEXTSTEP Computer as the Master NIS Server
229 Distributing Data from Non-NEXTSTEP Server to NetInfo
230 NEXTSTEP as NIS Clients
230 Considerations
231 Using Mail
231 Changing Passwords
231 Delays In Changes
231 Using DNS
232 NEXTSTEP Computer as a DNS client
232 NEXTSTEP Computer as a Secondary DNS Server
233 Novell NetWare
233 Configuring the NetWare Network
233 Configuring the NEXTSTEP Computers
234 Accessing Files
235 Restricting Visible Servers
238 Authentication
240 Printing
240 File Names and Permissions
240 DOS Namespace
241 File Names
241 Permissions
241 UNIX Namespace
241 Configuring the NewWare Servers
242 File Names
242 Permissions
243 Examining the NetInfo Database
244 AppleTalk
244 Enabling AppleTalk
245 File Sharing
247 Printing
247 Considerations
247 Resource Forks
247 Application Ownership
247 File Permissions
247 Examining the NetInfo Database
250 SNMP
250 Enabling SNMP
251 Defining Communities
254 SNMP Commands
254 Troubleshooting

256
Chapter 12: Using UUCP
256 Planning Your UUCP Configuration
256 Dial-in or Dial-out
256 Remote Sites
257 Functions
257 Calling
257 User Accounts
257 Setting Up UUCP
257 Configuring the Modem
258 Configuring Calling Out
258 Modifying L.sys
259 Other Configuration Files
260 Testing Dialing Out
260 Automating Dialing Out
260 Initiating a Call when Mail is Queued
261 Initiating Calls at Specific Times
261 Polling at Boot Time
261 Configuring Dial-in
262 Testing Dial-in
262 Ongoing UUCP Management
263 Log Files
263 Activity Reports
263 Troubleshooting
264 Testing
264 Problem Solving
264 Can't Connect to Modem
264 Can't Connect to Remote Site
264 Can't Log into Remote Site
265 Problems Once Logged In
265 Problems with uucico
265 Other Problems

266
Chapter 13: NetBooting
266 Configuring a NetBoot Client
266 Setting Up the Client Directories on the Server
267 Exporting the Local Directories to the Client
267 Exporting root
269 Exporting the Private Directory
270 Creating the Host Entry
272 Booting the Client
272 Troubleshooting
272 Conflicts with NFS
273 Permission Problems

274
Chapter 14: Security
274 Implementing Security
274 Security and the Standalone Computer
274 Physical Data Security
274 Protection from Viruses
275 Protecting Directories
275 Removing Write Access
275 Restricting Write Access
275 Setting a Hardware Password
275 Removing root Privileges for Preferences
276 Removing root Privileges
276 Restricting root Privileges
276 Removing root Privileges from PrintManager
276 Removing root Privileges
277 Restricting root Privileges
277 Setting Security Options in NetInfo
278 Security and the Local Area Network
279 General Precautions
279 Securing Printer and Fax Addition
279 Disabling Modifications
280 Enabling Modifications
282 Securing Print Jobs
283 Removing Print Jobs as nobody
283 Removing Print Jobs as the User
284 Checking for Passwords
286 Locating Setuid and Setgid Programs
287 Security and Remote Access
287 Setting Access Control to a NetInfo Domain
287 Securing a Domain
290 Unrestricting Access to a Domain
291 Monitoring User Activity
292 Maintainging Security

293
Chapter 15: General Troubleshooting
293 Process Monitoring and Control
293 Examining Basic Process Information
294 Examining a Long Process Listing
294 Examining Process Information for All Processes
294 Terminating a Process
295 Guidelines for Destroying a Process
295 Displaying Host and Network Statistics
295 The hostinfo Command
296 The ifconfig Command
296 The netstat Command
297 The nidomain Command
297 Checking for Available Disk Space
297 Fixing NetInfo Problems
299 Lost root Password

300
Appendix A: The Manager Applications
302 Appendix B: Cable and Modem Configuration
308 Appendix C: Internet Addressing
312 Appendix D: The sendmail Program
338 Appendix E: System Test Error Codes
341 Appendix F: UUCP Overview
342 Appendix G: Annotated uucico Debug Output
344 Appendix H: Annotated uucico Debug Output
347 Glossary
354 The Terminal Application

The really fine print
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