We had a NIS master server disaster and an outdated backup for it, but some slaves. I've been put in charge without any NIS knowledge so far except a few basics.
I've dumped every map via ypcat from an old slave, set up a SLES11 machine, added these files to /var/yp/ypfiles, pointed yast2 nis_server at it and set up the entire machinery, including two new machines as slaves - also SLES11.
I then took an older machine, pointed that at my new NIS-Server and tried auth. Once I found out you had to activate shadow passwords for some reasons - and the old maps were like 10+ years old without shadow passwords, auth worked so far.
However, netgroup did not work on another machine. ypcat netgroup gave me an empty line, ypcat netgroup.byhost no line at all, same for .byuser.
I've added +:::::: to the end of the empty /etc/netgroup without any difference. I've run make in /var/yp - no chance.
/etc/nsswitch from the server:
passwd: compat
group: compat nis
hosts: files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns
networks: files dns
services: files nis
protocols: files
rpc: files
ethers: files
netmasks: files
netgroup: nis
publickey: files
bootparams: files
automount: files
aliases: files nis
shadow: compat
/etc/nsswitch.conf from the test NIS client:
passwd: files nis
shadow: files nis
group: files nis
hosts: files nis dns
bootparams: files
ethers: files
netmasks: files
networks: files
protocols: files
rpc: files
services: files
netgroup: files nis
publickey: files
automount: files
aliases: files
So yeah, why does ypcat netgroup not return anything on the new server, but everything via an old slave?