Reference
About HostManager
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In this topic	HostManager application
	Host computers
	Host entries
	Automatic host configuration
	Time service
	Network binding
	Routing
	Internet addresses

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Summary	You use the HostManager application to manage computers on a networkÐto add them to the network or remove them, to change the NetInfo information in their host entries, and to set up the local domain to interact with the network. 

	You can also use HostManager to set up and use a network time service.

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To start HostManager, you must be logged in as root in the domain where you're adding the account.

For quick on-line help while you're using HostManager, choose Info ¬ Help from the HostManager menu. Or hold down the Help key and click a command, panel, window, or button. (If you don't have a Help key, hold down the Control and Alt keys.)

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Host computers and entries

When you add a computer to a network, it becomes a hostÐthat is, it runs client or server processes. 

Each host on a network needs a host entry in the /machines directory of the domain where you add it. You can use HostManager to create this host entry.

The host entry includes a host name, Internet (IP) address, and Ethernet (or Token Ring) address. You can also give the computer one or more aliases and netgroup names. These are useful for specifying the computer in certain circumstances, for example, when you're exporting files. 

In addition, you can include an optional system owner name and the type of computer if you run processes that need this information. 

You can add a computer to the network manually ;../../../NetworkComputers/AddComputerManually.rtfd;;¬ or automatically ;../../../NetworkComputers/AddComputerAutomatically.rtfd;;¬. When you add a computer automatically, the network prompts you for the information it needs to create a host entry. You don't have to use HostManager. 

¬Automatic host configuration

To add computers automatically, you need to configure the network for automatic host addition. Automatic host addition is particularly useful if you want users to be able to add their own computers to the network.

When you enable automatic host addition, you set a range of Internet addresses you want to assign to new computers. You also assign a temporary Internet address to be used during the setup.

You can choose a password option, too. If you want users to be able to add their own computers but you don't want to give them the root password, you can set up a network password that can only be used for adding computers. 

You can enable automatic host addition in the root (/) domain or in one midlevel domain ;../../../NetworkComputers/EnableAutomaticHostAddition.rtfd;;¬. 

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Time service
	
If you want the computers on your network to run on the same time, you need to set up one or more time servers and then configure each individual computer to use network time.

You should set up several clone time servers. Then set all the computers on the network to use network time ;../../../NetworkComputers/UseNetworkTime.rtfd;;¬.

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Local configuration 

Each computer that connects to the network must be configured. If you set up a configuration server, you can use the autoconfiguration facility to accomplish the job for each new computer as it first connects to the network. 

If you don't have autoconfiguration enabled, or if you want to fine-tune a particular computer's configuration, you can use HostManager's Local Configuration window. Most of the information you enter in the Local Configuration window modifies the contents of the /etc/hostconfig file.  

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Related topics (click a ¬)
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Concepts
Need the complete story of network computers?
;../../../NetworkComputers/AboutNetworkComputers.rtfd;;¬	About network computers

Not sure which domain to add a computer to?
;../../../NetInfo/AboutNetInfo.rtfd;;¬	About NetInfo

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How to 
;../../../NetworkComputers/AddComputerAutomatically.rtfd;;¬	Add a computer automatically
;../../../NetworkComputers/AddComputerManually.rtfd;;¬	Add a computer manually
;../../../NetworkComputers/ChangeNetworkAddressAutomatically.rtfd;;¬	Change a host address automatically
;../../../NetworkComputers/ChangeHostEntry.rtfd;;¬	Change a host entry
;../../../NetInfo/ExamineHostEntry.rtfd;;¬	Examine a host entry
;../../../NetworkComputers/CreateAliasHostName.rtfd;;¬	Create an alias host name
;../../../NetworkComputers/RemoveComputer.rtfd;;¬	Remove a computer
;../../../NetworkComputers/UseNetworkTime.rtfd;;¬	Use network time
;../../../NetworkComputers/EnableAutomaticHostAddition.rtfd;;¬	Enable automatic host addition
;HostManagerPanels/LocalConfigurationWindow.rtfd;;¬	local configuration