man(1) Manual page archive


     NDB(8)                                                     NDB(8)

     NAME
          query, mkhash, mkdb, cs, csquery, dns, dnsquery - network
          database

     SYNOPSIS
          ndb/query attr value [rattr]
          ndb/mkhash file attr
          ndb/cs
          ndb/csquery
          ndb/dns [ -s ]
          ndb/dnsquery
          ndb/mkdb

     DESCRIPTION
          The network database holds administrative information used
          by network programs such as bootp(8), ipconfig(8), con(1),
          etc.

          Ndb/query searches the database for an attribute of type
          attr and value value. If rattr is not specified, all entries
          matched by the search are returned.  If rattr is specified,
          the value of the first pair with attribute rattr of all the
          matched entries is returned.

          Ndb/mkhash creates a hash file for all entries with
          attribute attr in database file file. The hash files are
          used by ndb/query and by the ndb library routines.

          Ndb/cs is a server used by dial(2) to translate network
          names.  It is started at boot time.  It finds out what net-
          works are configured by looking for /net/*/clone when it
          starts.  It can also be told about networks by writing to
          /net/cs a message of the form:

               add net1 net2 ....

          Ndb/cs also sets the system name in /dev/sysname if it can
          figure it out.  Ndb/csquery can be used to query ndb/cs to
          see how it resolves addresses.  Ndb/csquery prompts for
          addresses and prints out what ndb/cs returns.

          Ndb/dns is a server used by ndb/cs and by remote systems to
          translate Internet domain names.  Ndb/dns is started at boot
          time.  By default dns serves only requests written to
          /net/dns.  Option -s causes the server to also answer domain
          requests sent to UDP port 53.  Name resolution is performed
          by searching the local database and by querying remote
          servers.  The server for a domain is indicated by a database
          entry containing both a dom and a ns attribute.  For exam-
          ple, the entry for the Internet root is:

     NDB(8)                                                     NDB(8)

          dom=
               ns=ns.nic.ddn.mil
               ns=kava.nisc.sri.com
               ns=aos.brl.mil

          The root of a domain subtree served by the local database is
          indicated by an entry with an soa attribute.  For example,
          the AT&T research domain is:

          dom=research.att.com soa
               mb=ches.research.att.com
               ns=inet.research.att.com
               ns=research.research.att.com

          Here, the mb entry is the mail address of the person respon-
          sible for the domain (default postmaster).  Wildcarded
          domain names can also be used.  For example, to specify a
          mail forwarder for all AT&T research systems:

          dom=*.research.att.com
               mx=research.att.com

          Ndb/dnsquery can be used to query ndb/dns to see how it
          resolves requests.  Ndb/dnsquery prompts for commands of the
          form

               domain-name request-type

          where request-type can be ip, mx, ns, cname, ...

          Ndb/mkdb is used in concert with awk(1) scripts to convert
          uucp systems files, IP hosts files, and Datakit configura-
          tion files into database files.  It is very specific to the
          situation at Murray Hill.

     EXAMPLES
          % ndb/query sys helix
          sys=helix dom=helix.research.att.com bootf=/mips/9powerboot
               ip=135.104.117.31 ether=080069020427
               dk=nj/astro/helix
               proto=il
          % ndb/query sys helix ip
          135.104.117.31

     FILES
          /lib/ndb/local       first database file searched
          /lib/ndb/global      second database file searched
          /lib/ndb/local.*     hash files for /lib/ndb/local
          /lib/ndb/global.*    hash files for /lib/ndb/global
          /srv/cs              service file for ndb/cs
          /net/cs              where /srv/cs gets mounted

     NDB(8)                                                     NDB(8)

     SEE ALSO
          ndb(2) ndb(6)