On a fedora core 2 box I want to use both a DNS server and a NIS server. If the nsswitch.conf host line just contains the DNS & files entries host resolution is fine. Add NIS anywhere on the line and host resolution takes 10+ minutes. Really, I did make a cup of filter coffe.

Is anyone else using two nameing serveices?

avayah; nis is solaris & unix so you may have to contact them for assistance. checked all info i have non plus on that one. sorry!

For other reasons I re-installed and the problem vanished.
Ahh - one off weird I thought.
New machine arrives, new install.... problem appears!
Ahh - time to ltrace.
ltrace ypcat hosts -- whizz instant success or fail to find a hostname
ltrace ftp host -- snail pace, lots of rpc failures
Ahh - tcp VS udp
I assume some applications use tcp which leaves a statefull hole in my firewall for the reply. Other applications use udp which has no state and the firewall does not know which packets are a reply. I have read things on what holes to create in a firewall to use NIS too.

The machine is behind the firewall and I had not got around to switching off the default during install