What is it#

Used to resolve NDS Tree-name to server referrals.

hosts.nds is a static lookup table used by Novell eDirectory applications to look up eDirectory partitions and servers.

If a tree or server is not available in the hosts.nds file, then lookup is performed through Service Location Protocol (SLP) or DNS

The hosts.nds file can be used to avoid SLP multicast delays when a SLP Directory Agent (DA) is not present in the network.

MAN Page#

NAME hosts.nds - Used to resolve tree names to server referrals. SYNOPSIS /etc/hosts.nds

NOTE: Every server in the same NDS Tree-name should have all servers and replicas listed in this file. On each server, the first enry in /etc/hosts.nds file should be for the server that you are editing the file.

DESCRIPTION

       hosts.nds is a static lookup table used by Novell* eDirectory* applica-
       tions to look up eDirectory partitions and servers. If a tree or server
       is  not available in the file, then lookup is performed through Service
       Location Protocol (SLP).
 
       The hosts.nds file can be used to avoid SLP multicast delays when a SLP
       Directory Agent (DA) is not present in the network.
 
       Blank  lines  and  lines starting with a pound sign (#) in the file are
       ignored. For each tree or server, a single line contains the  following
       information:
 
       Tree/Server Name              Tree names end with a trailing dot (.).
 
       Internet Address              This can be a DNS name or IP address.
 
       Server Port                   Optional,  appended  with  a colon (:) to
                                     the Internet address.
 
SYNTAX
       <[partition name.]tree name>.     <host-name/ip-addr>[:<port>]  <server
       name>  <dns-addr/ip-addr>[:<port]
 
EXAMPLES
              # This is an example of a hosts.nds file:
 
       # Tree name                   Internet address
       CORPORATE.                    myserver.mycompany.com
       novell.CORPORATE.             164.99.154.24:524
  
       # Server name                 Internet address
       CORPSERVER                    myserver.mycompany.com
 
FILES
       /etc/hosts.nds
 
NOTES
       Server names are required to be used for ndsrepair. ndsrepair uses the
       server's network IP addresses to repair network addresses.
 
TROUBLESHOOTING
       The hosts.nds file must be manually edited. It is NOT updated by eDirectory
       servers. If the file contains outdated entries, eDirectory applications
       might encounter spurious lookup errors.
 
SEE ALSO
       slpuasa.conf(4), slpuasa(1), legal(5)

The /etc/hosts.nds file is used by eDirectory to determine the "other" servers that are in the same NDS Tree-name.

Sample hosts.nds contents:#

# hosts.nds
#
# Novell Workaround for SLP (see TID 10056651)
#
# Syntax:  <[partition name].tree name>. 
#          <hostname|ip>[:port] <server name>
#          <dns-addr|ip-addr>[:port]
#
# Example entry:
#TREENAME. 1.2.3.4 
#SERVERNAME 1.2.3.4 
 
B1LDAP-QA. 10.129.242.227
INO0L905 10.129.242.227
 
B1LDAP-QA. 10.129.242.221
INO0S702 10.129.242.221