[lug] NIS hang

[Hugh Brown]

Daniel Webb wrote:
> I am new to NIS, and can't figure out why it hangs "su" when my network goes
> down.  This my nsswitch.conf:
> 
> passwd:         files nis
> group:          files nis
> shadow:         files nis
> 
> hosts:          files dns nis
> networks:       files
> 
> protocols:      files db
> services:       files db
> ethers:         files db
> rpc:            files db
> ----
> 
> and there are entries in /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow for root.  So why does
> "su" hang?  This is irritating, because it means a reboot if whatever was
> wrong requires root to fix.
> 
>

pam is likely the culprit.  It tries to query nis for the root account 
and then goes off to the bitbucket bar.  I have memories of needing a 
"compat" in nsswitch.conf but that may have been from rh 6.x and 7.x.

I'd look at pam.  I do remember rh having a problem with ldap, the local 
root account and a hang.  Can you open up a terminal, su - to root then 
stop nis to test w/o having a lockup?

Hugh