makedbm Command
Purpose
Makes a Network Information Services (NIS) database map.
Syntax
To Create an Map
/usr/sbin/makedbm [ -b ] [ -i NISInputFile ] [ -o NISOutputFile ] [ -d NISDomainName ] [ -m NISMasterName ] InputFile OutputFile
To Create a Non-dbm Formatted Map
/usr/sbin/makedbm [ -u dbmFileName ]
Description
The makedbm command makes an NIS map. It does this by converting the file named in the InputFile parameter into two output files: OutputFile.pag and OutputFile.dir. Each line in each input file is converted into a single Data Base Manager (DBM) record.
The makedbm command is most often invoked from the /var/yp/Makefile file to generate NIS maps. All characters leading up to the first space or tab in each line of the /var/yp/Makefile file form the key. The rest of the line contains value data. If a line ends with a \ (backslash), data for that record is continued on the next line. NIS clients must interpret the # (pound sign) symbol since the makedbm command does not treat it as a comment character. If the InputFile parameter is a - (minus sign), the makedbm command reads standard input instead.
This command generates a special entry in the output map by using the YP_LAST_MODIFIED key, which is the date that the file specified by the InputFile parameter was created (or the current time, if the InputFile parameter is a - (minus sign)).
Flags
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| -b | Propagates a map to all servers using the named name server. |
| -i | Creates a special entry with the YP_INPUT_FILE key. |
| -o | Creates a special entry with the YP_OUTPUT_FILE key. |
| -d | Creates a special entry with the YP_DOMAIN_NAME key. |
| -m | Creates a special entry with the YP_MASTER_NAME key. |
| -u | Undoes a DBM file. That is, prints out a DBM file one entry per line, with a single space separating keys from values. |
Files
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| /var/yp/Makefile | Contains rules for making NIS maps. |