Create a Netinfo Domain On 10.4 Client

[ajb]

I am trying to set up a NetInfo domain hierarchy on my home network. I do not have OS X server.

When I go to create a new domain using nidomain, I get the following error

<blockquote>
The "nibindd" daemon is not running on this desktop system.
To set up a NetInfo server, edit the file "/etc/hostconfig",
set "NETINFOSERVER=-YES-" and re-start the computer.
</blockquote>

Doing this makes no difference.

I am not sure that /etc/hostconfig controls the startup of nibindd given that there is now a launchd item for it - which seems to be set to start nibindd on demand, but of course it doesn't.

So do I need to use nidomain to create my root domain, and if so, how do I start nibindd?

Regards,

AJB

 

[Green Dome]

At startup, nibindd checks to see if any domains are defined besides the local domain. If there are none, it exits silently. You need to start nibindd with the "-A" option to force it to keep running. This can be accomplished by editing /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.nibindd.plist to read as follows:

<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>

<string>/usr/sbin/nibindd</string>
<string>-A</string>​

</array>
​

then, from Terminal:

cd /System/Library/LaunchDaemons
sudo launchctl
unload com.apple.nibindd.plist
load com.apple.nibindd.plist
^D (control-D to exit launchctl)​

Check to see that it worked:

$ ps xa |grep bind
226 ?? Ss 0:00.01 /usr/sbin/nibindd -A​

This doesn't seem to be documented anywhere. I had to check the nibindd code to figure this out.

 

[ajb]

Thanks Green Dome, I might have to wait till Christmas is over before I get the chance to try this, (silly season is just too busy), but this is the first glimmer of a solution. Thanks.