Hi the problem I am having is to do with setting up Diskless Linux to utilise NIS for authentication.

I am currently using Fedora Core 5. I installed linux using a kickstart file with the line:
authconfig --enableshadow --enablemd5 --enablenis --
nisdomain=<domainname> --nisserver=<servername>

The problems:
1. When the machine starts up, it has problems connecting to the NIS
server. It does find the nisdomain, but not the nis server. The error
on startup is:
Binding to the NIS domain: [ OK ]
Listening for an NIS domain server.................... [FAILED]

2. Logging in as root then typing the command:
authconfig --enableshadow --enablemd5 --enablenis --
nisdomain=<domainname> --nisserver=<servername> --update
works, but after logging out of root su -- <user> does not work
anymore.

ypbind --debug outputs this:

3657: parsing config file
3657: Trying entry: domain <domainname> server <servername>
3657: parsed domain '<domainname>' server '<servername>'
3657: add_server() domain: <domainname>, host: <servername>, slot: 0
YPBINDPROC_DOMAIN: Domain not bound
YPBINDPROC_DOMAIN: Domain not bound
3657: [Welcome to ypbind-mt, version 1.19]

3657: ping interval is 20 seconds

3658: ypbind-mt already running (pid 3602) - exiting

3813: parsing config file
3813: Trying entry: domain <domainname> server <servername>
3813: parsed domain '<domainname>' server '<servername>'
3813: add_server() domain: <domainname>, host: <servername>, slot: 0
3813: [Welcome to ypbind-mt, version 1.19]

3813: ping interval is 20 seconds

3815: ping host '<servername>', domain '<domainname>'
3815: Answer for domain '<domainname>' from server '<servername>'
3815: Pinging all active server.
3815: Pinging all active server.
3815: Pinging all active server.
3815: Pinging all active server.
3815: Pinging all active server.
....
3813: ypbindproc_domain_2_svc (<domain>)
3813: Pinging all active server.
3813: Requested <domain>, found <domainname>, ignored.
3813: Status: YPBIND_FAIL_VAL
....

I also get this when running the authconfig command:

# authconfig --enablenis --nisdomain=<domainname> --nisserver=<domainserver> --update
/usr/sbin/pwconv: can't lock passwd file
/usr/sbin/grpconv: can't lock group file
failed to make symlink /etc/rc3.d/S13portmap: File exists
failed to make symlink /etc/rc4.d/S13portmap: File exists
failed to make symlink /etc/rc5.d/S13portmap: File exists
Stopping portmap: [ OK ]
Starting portmap: [ OK ]
failed to make symlink /etc/rc3.d/S27ypbind: File exists
failed to make symlink /etc/rc4.d/S27ypbind: File exists
failed to make symlink /etc/rc5.d/S27ypbind: File exists
setsebool: SELinux is disabled.
Shutting down NIS services: [ OK ]
Binding to the NIS domain: [ OK ]
Listening for an NIS domain server.
failed to make symlink /etc/rc3.d/K35winbind: File exists
failed to make symlink /etc/rc4.d/K35winbind: File exists
failed to make symlink /etc/rc5.d/K35winbind: File exists

Can someone help please! I need to get NIS working in a diskless environment.