Passwd (database) - Nsswitch.conf

Nsswitch.conf

A system administrator usually configures the operating system's name services using the file /etc/nsswitch.conf. This lists databases (such as passwd, shadow and group) and one or more sources for obtaining that information. Examples for sources are files for local files, ldap for the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, nis for the Network Information Service, nisplus for NIS+, and wins for Windows Internet Name Service.

The nsswitch.conf file has line entries for each service consisting of a database name in the first field, terminated by a colon, and a list of possible source databases mechanisms in the second field. A typical file might look like:

passwd: files ldap shadow: files group: files ldap hosts: dns nis files ethers: files nis netmasks: files nis networks: files nis protocols: files nis rpc: files nis services: files nis automount: files aliases: files

The order of the services listed determines in which order NSS will attempt to use those services to resolve queries on the specified database.