System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (FNS and NIS+)

distinguished name

A distinguished name is an entry in an X.500 directory information base (DIB) composed of selected attributes from each entry in the tree along a path leading from the root down to the named entry.

DNS

See Domain Name System.

DNS-forwarding

An NIS server or an NIS+ server with NIS compatibility set forwards requests it cannot answer to DNS servers.

DNS zones

Administrative boundaries within a network domain, often made up of one or more subdomains.

DNS zone files

A set of files wherein the DNS software stores the names and IP addresses of all the workstations in a domain.

domain

(1) In NIS+ a group of hierarchical objects managed by NIS+. There is one highest level domain (root domain) and zero or more subdomains. Domains and subdomains may be organized around geography, organizational or functional principles.

Parent domain. Relative term for the domain immediately above the current domain in the hierarchy.
Child domain. Relative term for the domain immediately below the current domain in the hierarchy.
Root domain. Highest domain within the current NIS+ hierarchy.

(2) In the Internet, a part of a naming hierarchy usually corresponding to a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN) or a portion of such a network. Syntactically, an Internet domain name consists of a sequence of names (labels) separated by periods (dots). For example, sales.doc.com.

(3) In International Organization for Standardization's open systems interconnection (OSI), "domain" is generally used as an administrative partition of a complex distributed system, as in MHS private management domain (PRMD), and directory management domain (DMD).

domain name

The name assigned to a group of systems on a local network that share DNS administrative files. The domain name is required for the network information service database to work properly. See also domain.

Domain Name Service (DNS)

A service that provides the naming policy and mechanisms for mapping domain and machine names to addresses outside of the enterprise, such as those on the Internet. DNS is the network information service used by the Internet.

encryption key

See data encrypting key.

enterprise-level name service

An enterprise-level naming service identifies (names) machines (hosts), users and files within an enterprise-level network. FNS also allows naming of organizational units, geographic sites, and application services.

enterprise-level network

An "enterprise-level" network can be a single Local Area Network (LAN) communicating over cables, infra-red beams, or radio broadcast; or a cluster of two or more LANs linked together by cable or direct phone connections. Within an enterprise-level network, every machine is able to communicate with every other machine without reference to a global naming service such as DNS or X.500/LDAP.

enterprise root

In FNS (XFN), the root context of an enterprise. A context for naming objects found at the root of the enterprise namespace.

entry

A single row of data in a database table.

federated naming service

The service offered by a federated naming system.

federated naming system

An aggregation of autonomous naming systems that cooperate to support name resolution of composite names through a standard interface. Each member of a federation has autonomy in its choice of operations other than name resolution.

federated namespace

An FNS (XFN) term referring to the set of all possible names generated according to the policies that govern the relationships among member naming systems and their respective namespaces.

FNS

See Federated naming service.

generic context

In FNS (XFN), a context for binding names used in applications.

GID

See group ID.

global context

In FNS (XFN), a context for naming objects that have global names (currently, DNS and X.500 are the only global naming systems specified by XFN).

global name service

A global naming service identifies (names) those enterprise-level networks around the world that are linked together via phone, satellite, or other communication systems. This world-wide collection of linked networks is known as the "Internet." In addition to naming networks, a global naming service also identifies individual machines and users within a given network.

group

(1) A collection of users who are referred to by a common name.

(2) In NIS+ a collection of users who are collectively given specified access rights to NIS+ objects. NIS+ group information is stored in the NIS+ group table.

(3) In UNIX, groups determine a user's access to files. There are two types of groups: default user group and standard user group.


	distinguished name A distinguished name is an entry in an X.500 directory information base (DIB) composed of selected attributes from each entry in the tree along a path leading from the root down to the named entry. DNS See Domain Name System. DNS-forwarding An NIS server or an NIS+ server with NIS compatibility set forwards requests it cannot answer to DNS servers. DNS zones Administrative boundaries within a network domain, often made up of one or more subdomains. DNS zone files A set of files wherein the DNS software stores the names and IP addresses of all the workstations in a domain. domain (1) In NIS+ a group of hierarchical objects managed by NIS+. There is one highest level domain (root domain) and zero or more subdomains. Domains and subdomains may be organized around geography, organizational or functional principles. Parent domain. Relative term for the domain immediately above the current domain in the hierarchy. Child domain. Relative term for the domain immediately below the current domain in the hierarchy. Root domain. Highest domain within the current NIS+ hierarchy. (2) In the Internet, a part of a naming hierarchy usually corresponding to a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN) or a portion of such a network. Syntactically, an Internet domain name consists of a sequence of names (labels) separated by periods (dots). For example, `sales.doc.com`. (3) In International Organization for Standardization's open systems interconnection (OSI), "domain" is generally used as an administrative partition of a complex distributed system, as in MHS private management domain (PRMD), and directory management domain (DMD). domain name The name assigned to a group of systems on a local network that share DNS administrative files. The domain name is required for the network information service database to work properly. See also domain. Domain Name Service (DNS) A service that provides the naming policy and mechanisms for mapping domain and machine names to addresses outside of the enterprise, such as those on the Internet. DNS is the network information service used by the Internet. encryption key See data encrypting key. enterprise-level name service An enterprise-level naming service identifies (names) machines (hosts), users and files within an enterprise-level network. FNS also allows naming of organizational units, geographic sites, and application services. enterprise-level network An "enterprise-level" network can be a single Local Area Network (LAN) communicating over cables, infra-red beams, or radio broadcast; or a cluster of two or more LANs linked together by cable or direct phone connections. Within an enterprise-level network, every machine is able to communicate with every other machine without reference to a global naming service such as DNS or X.500/LDAP. enterprise root In FNS (XFN), the root context of an enterprise. A context for naming objects found at the root of the enterprise namespace. entry A single row of data in a database table. federated naming service The service offered by a federated naming system. federated naming system An aggregation of autonomous naming systems that cooperate to support name resolution of composite names through a standard interface. Each member of a federation has autonomy in its choice of operations other than name resolution. federated namespace An FNS (XFN) term referring to the set of all possible names generated according to the policies that govern the relationships among member naming systems and their respective namespaces. FNS See Federated naming service. generic context In FNS (XFN), a context for binding names used in applications. GID See group ID. global context In FNS (XFN), a context for naming objects that have global names (currently, DNS and X.500 are the only global naming systems specified by XFN). global name service A global naming service identifies (names) those enterprise-level networks around the world that are linked together via phone, satellite, or other communication systems. This world-wide collection of linked networks is known as the "Internet." In addition to naming networks, a global naming service also identifies individual machines and users within a given network. group (1) A collection of users who are referred to by a common name. (2) In NIS+ a collection of users who are collectively given specified access rights to NIS+ objects. NIS+ group information is stored in the NIS+ group table. (3) In UNIX, groups determine a user's access to files. There are two types of groups: default user group and standard user group.