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Network information system

(also network information service, NIS)

Network information system definition

A network information system is a directory service protocol used to provide uniform configuration files to a network. Based on remote procedure calls, NIS maintains common databases for passwords, groups, hosts files, and so on to networked devices.

Network information system facts

1985: Sun Microsystems developed NIS for central authentication and authorization in networked Unix systems.

1992: NIS was officially succeeded by NIS+, but the protocol failed to gain traction and was eventually abandoned.