Novell LINUX ENTERPRISE SERVER 10 - INSTALLATION AND ADMINISTRATION 08-05-2008 Installation Manual page 608

hosts
netgroup
networks
passwd
protocols
rpc
services
shadow
Table 30.8
files
db
nis, nisplus
dns
compat
590 Installation and Administration
For hostnames and IP addresses, used by gethostbyname
and similar functions.
Valid host and user lists in the network for the purpose of
controlling access permissions; see the netgroup(5) man
page.
Network names and addresses, used by getnetent.
User passwords, used by getpwent; see the passwd(5)
man page.
Network protocols, used by getprotoent; see the
protocols(5) man page.
Remote procedure call names and addresses, used by
getrpcbyname and similar functions.
Network services, used by getservent.
Shadow passwords of users, used by getspnam; see the
shadow(5) man page.
Configuration Options for NSS "Databases"
directly access files, for example, /etc/aliases
access via a database
NIS, see also
can only be used as an extension for hosts and
networks
can only be used as an extension for passwd, shadow,
and group
Chapter 35, Using NIS (page 655)