!!! Overview 
The [Network Information Service] or [NIS] (originally called Yellow Pages or YP) is [Sun Microsystems][ client-server] [Directory Service] [protocol] for [Distributed system] configuration [data] such as user and host names between computers on a computer [network].

[{$pagename}] is a [Discovery Mechanism].

[Sun Microsystems] licenses this technology to virtually all other [UNIX] vendors.

In many environments other [Directory Services], which may be considered to be more modern and secure than [NIS], such as [LDAP], have come to replace it. For example, many LDAP servers run as a non-root user, and SASL-based encryption or TLS/SSL of LDAP traffic is typically natively supported.

The nameserver functionality NIS and probably LDAP can provide maybe better handled by [DNS] servers when used on large LANs, leaving just site-wide identification information for NIS master and slave systems to serve. However, some functions such as the distribution of netmask information to clients, as well as the maintenance of e-mail aliases, may still be performed by NIS or LDAP.


!! NIS and NIS+ Support to be [OBSOLETE] 
Although it has been rather widely stated that [Sun Microsystems] will discontinue support for NIS and NIS+, we could find no official statement that states support will be discontinued.
[Sun Microsystems] does recommend that [LDAP] be used.

!![Migrating From NIS To LDAP|MigratingFromNISToLDAP]

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
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