Clarification on roles of networking components.

[Robert Moskowitz]

Simon Slater wrote:
> 	G'day all,
> 		I've been setting up a SOHO network, switching things over from a
> labour intensive /etc/hosts based system to a more automated setup.
> With much reading I think I can't see the wood for the trees any more.
>
> 	I have found a lot of material on the individual components and their
> configuration, but not on the overall integration of the parts into a
> whole.  Is there such a guide or even schematic to illustrate how and
> where each component is best used?  More specifically:
>
> 	Is there any overlap in the functions of NIS, bind and LDAP?  Or are
> these mutually exclusive?
>   

Never used NIS, but you CAN use LDAP for your BIND content, but you 
always need BIND somewhere, and if the app needs LDAP, it needs LDAP (eg 
SIP).

> 	When using DHCP, is /etc/hosts redundant?
>   

You pretty much need localhost in /etc/hosts.  But the basic handles 
most apps.

> 	What is the optimal way to resolve names in a small but growing
> network?
>   

Do you have local servers?  If not run a namecaching server on your 
gateway/firewall; most support this.  Otherwise, you need a local BIND 
server, use Webmin to maintain it.  I am very experienced with BIND, and 
still use Webmin.