This is a snapshot release of the NIS interface to Perl 5. There are two parts to the interface: the raw component (Net::NIS), and the object-oriented component (Net::NIS::Table). The NIS interface only implements the NIS API, so there is no write access to the NIS databases. The object-oriented interface is used to simplify access to the NIS databases. It is used like this: require Net::NIS::Table; $hostname="test"; $hosts=Net::NIS::Table->new("hosts.byname"); # automatically uses # the default domainname $data=$hosts->list; # retrieve the host data print "$hostname's IP address is $data->{$hostname}\n"; I have included the start to the documentation in NIS.pod and NISTable.pod. INSTALLATION: ------------ To compile the NIS package: 1. Unpack the distribution file. It will create its own directory. 2. cd NIS-a2 3. perl Makefile.PL 4. make 5. t/tabletest when you are happy with the extension, you can type: 6. make install to install it on your system BUGS: ---- This is alpha code. This means: a) the interfaces may change b) it may not even work for you Please report any bugs in the code or documentation to rik.harris@fulcrum.com.au. There is a mailing list perl-nis@lists.fulcrum.com.au, which I encourage anyone using the alpha or beta versions of the NIS or NIS+ interfaces to subscribe to. You can subscribe by sending the message 'subscribe perl-nis' in the body of a message to majordomo@lists.fulcrum.com.au. The list is intended to be a discussion/announcement list for all things to do with the NIS and NIS+ perl extensions. have fun, rik. (1995-11-10)