FYI. I upgraded my lab machine today to slink. The NIS docu suggests ---[/usr/doc/nis/nis.debian.howto.gz] 2. HOW TO SPECIFY WHAT RESOURCES TO USE FOR NIS: 2.4.2 For libc6 applications: Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf and change the hosts entry: hosts: nis files --- I had to make this line in nsswitch.conf hosts: nis files dns before network users could log in (via NIS). --prashanth