Recommended File and User sharing between Debian systems?

[Adam Scriven <scriven@lore.com>]

Hey all.

I've got another machine added to my network (Old 486, 12MB Ram.  Debian 
went on OK, but the kmod (i think) errors on boot went on for ever), and 
I'm wondering what the "best" (if there is such a thing) way of sharing 
users and shares between computers?

I've read a lot of bad press about NFS, so I'm curious about Coda.  Right 
now I'm using SMBFS, but I'd prefer to use a native linux system, if 
there's a better one to use.

Also, I'm wondering about NIS, but I've got no experience with that at all.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!
Adam
Toronto, Ontario, Canada