NetInfo
Create a clone NetInfo server with NIM 
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If your network relies on three or more NetInfo domain levels, you should set up one or more clone NetInfo servers for the root domain and for each mid-level domain. These clone servers share NetInfo request traffic so a single host doesn't become a bottleneck. Clone servers also provide a back up in case the master NetInfo server fails. If your network includes subnets, be sure each subnet has at least one clone NetInfo server for each domain needed within the subnet.

As a rule of thumb, set up one clone for every ten computers.

You can set up the clone server on any computer (except the one that runs the master server). 
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BEFORE YOU START: Make backup copies of any /etc/netinfo databases for any domains you wish to alter. Be sure the computer that will host the new clone NetInfo server is a valid resident of the network. 
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1	Log in as root on the computer where you want to set up the clone server.
	If you don't log in as root, you can type the root password when 
	you start NetInfoManager. 
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2	Double-click NetInfoManager in /NextAdmin. 
	CAUTION  If your NetInfoManager session fails, you must restore the previous /etc/netinfo files yourself. Be sure you made backup copies before you proceedÐfor example, by copying /etc/netinfo/* to  /etc/netinfo/*ORG to save the original files.
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3	Click Domain ¬ Manager Hierarchy
	NetInfoManager presents its Manage the Domain Hierarchy window.  
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4	Select the button to Create a clone server (on this host) for an existing domain. 
	If you don't log in as root, you can type the root password when 
	you start NetInfoManager. 
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5	Click Configure. 
	The New Clone window opens.  
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6	Enter the information in the New Clone window that opens. 
	Use the Select... button to choose a domain from a browser, then click Create to fill in the information automatically. 

	You can enter the information manually, if you must: 
	·	Enter the name of the domain you wish to clone. 
	·	Enter the name of the computer that hosts the master NetInfo server 	for the domain you wish to clone. 
	·	Enter the tag name of the database of the domain as it exists on the 	host for the master server. 
	·	Enter a tag name for the database of the clone. Use the same name 	unless you have a good reason that it be different.  
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7	Click Create.
	NetInfoManager will create a new serves property in the /machines/clonehost directory (with a ./tag entry) for the domain and will copy the database to the /etc/netinfo directory of the host filesystem. 

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You can manually create a clone server. 

First use NetInfoManager or niutil to open the domain you want to clone. Alter the serves property for the host of the new clone server (/machines/newhost) to include a ./tag entry for the database on the host. 

Second, log in on the computer that will host the new clone NetInfo server. Use the nidomain utility with the -c option to copy the domain database to the host for the new clone server (for example, the command nidomain -c midtag hostmaster/midtag copies the /etc/netinfo/midtag.nidb database from the computer named hostmaster. 

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Related topics (click a ¬)
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Concepts
Not sure when and where to set up clones?
;AboutSetup.rtfd;;¬	About Setup

Need help with domains? 
;../NetInfo/AboutNetInfo.rtfd;;¬	About NetInfo

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How to
Every NetInfo domain must have a master NetInfo server for that domain.
;CreateMasterServer.rtfd;;¬	Create a master server

If your network has only two domain levels, you can use SimpleNetworkStarter to create a clone server.
;CreateTwoLevelCloneServer.rtfd;;¬	Create a two-level clone server