NFS and NIS

Network File System (NFS)

NFS allows to set up directories shareable
to other UNIX machines over a (local) network.

These directories can then be mounted like a
hard-disk or CD on any other machine on the network.

NFS is a standard, a protocol, and on UNIX and LINUX.

Network Information Service (NIS)

NIS provides a simple network lookup service
consisting of databases and processes.

Its purpose is to provide information that has to be known
throughout the network to all machines on the network.

For example, it enables an administrator
to allow users access to any machine in a network
running NIS without a password entry existing on
each machine; only the main database needs to be
maintained.