PC-NFS is a program for personal computers that enables the personal computer to mount file systems exported by a Network File System (NFS) server. The personal computer can also request network addresses and host names from the NFS server. Additionally, if the NFS server is running the rpc.pcnfsd daemon, the personal computer can access authentication and print-spooling services.
You might want to configure the rpc.pcnfsd daemon on the following:
Note: Because NIS networks are typically configured so that PC-NFS can pick any NIS server as the default server, it is important that all servers have the rpc.pcnfsd daemon running. If running this daemon on all NIS servers is not practical, or if you want to limit requests to a specific server, add a net pcnfsd command to the autoexec.bat file on each personal computer to force it to use a specific NIS server. For more information, see AIX 5L Version 5.1 Network Information Services (NIS and NIS+) Guide.
By default, PC-NFS presents itself to NFS servers as the nobody user. With nobody privileges, all personal computer user files appear as owned by nobody, and consequently you cannot distinguish between different personal computer users. The authentication capability of the rpc.pcnfsd daemon allow you to monitor system resources and security by recognizing individual users and assigning them different privileges.
With the rpc.pcnfsd daemon running, a PC-NFS user can issue the net name command from a personal computer to log in to PC-NFS in the same manner as a user can log in to this operating system. The user name and password are verified by the rpc.pcnfsd daemon. This authentication procedure does not make a server more secure, but it does provide more control over access to files that are available through NFS.
The print-spooling service of the rpc.pcnfsd daemon enables personal computers running PC-NFS to print to printers not directly attached to the personal computer. Specifically, PC-NFS redirects files intended for personal computer printers to a file on an NFS server. This file is placed in a spool directory on the NFS server. The rpc.pcnfsd daemon then invokes the server printing facility. (The spooling directory must be in an exported file system so that PC-NFS clients can mount it.) When PC-NFS requests that the rpc.pcnfsd daemon print the file, it provides the following information:
To configure the rpc.pcnfsd daemon:
Note: Because printer-redirection requests sometimes cause file listings of zero length to be left in the PC-NFS spool directories, periodically clear spooling directories of these entries.
To start the rpc.pcnfsd daemon using the default spooling directory:
pcnfsd sunrpc_udp udp wait root /usr/sbin/rpc.pcnfsd pcnfsd 150001 1
To start the rpc.pcnfsd daemon using a directory that is different from the default:
if [ -f /usr/sbin/rpc.pcnfsd ] ; then /usr/sbin/rpc.pcnfsd -s spooldir ; echo ' rpc.pcnfsd\c' fi
where spooldir specifies the full path name of the spool directory.
#pcnfsd sunrpc_udp udp wait root /usr/sbin/rpc.pcnfsd pcnfsd 150001 1
Placing a pound sign (#) at the beginning of the line prevents the inetd daemon from starting the rpc.pcnfsd daemon using the default spool directory.
/usr/sbin/rpc.pcnfsd -s spooldir
where spooldir specifies the full path name of the spool directory.
For more information on updating the inetd configuration database, see Configuring the inetd Daemon.
Note: The default directory that the rpc.pcnfsd daemon uses cannot be changed from the inetd.conf file.
To verify that the rpc.pcnfsd daemon is accessible, enter:
rpcinfo -u host 150001
where host specifies the host name of the system on which you are configuring rpc.pcnfsd, and 15001 is the RPC program number of the rpc.pcnfsd daemon. After you enter the command, you will receive a message that the program is ready and waiting.