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(libc.info)NSS Basics

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NSS Basics
==========

   The basic idea is to put the implementation of the different services
offered to access the databases in separate modules.  This has some
advantages:

  1. Contributors can add new services without adding them to GNU C
     Library.

  2. The modules can be updated separately.

  3. The C library image is smaller.

   To fulfill the first goal above the ABI of the modules will be
described below.  For getting the implementation of a new service right
it is important to understand how the functions in the modules get
called.  They are in no way designed to be used by the programmer
directly.  Instead the programmer should only use the documented and
standardized functions to access the databases.

The databases available in the NSS are

`aliases'
     Mail aliases

`ethers'
     Ethernet numbers,

`group'
     Groups of users, Note: Group Database.

`hosts'
     Host names and numbers, Note: Host Names.

`netgroup'
     Network wide list of host and users, Note: Netgroup Database.

`networks'
     Network names and numbers, Note: Networks Database.

`protocols'
     Network protocols, Note: Protocols Database.

`passwd'
     User passwords, Note: User Database.

`rpc'
     Remote procedure call names and numbers,

`services'
     Network services, Note: Services Database.

`shadow'
     Shadow user passwords,

There will be some more added later (`automount', `bootparams',
`netmasks', and `publickey').