[NTLUG:Discuss] NIS capabilities? - noobie

[namit.bhalla at wipro.com]

Hi,
I am completely new to the concept of NIS and wish to know what all can
be done using NIS.
>From what I have read so far, NIS can be used to allow any user to log
on to any client system 
on a network by having a central database of the passwd files etc.
I have also read that NIS can be used to "share a common set of
configuration files". 
Could someone please clarify what kind of central configuration is
possible using NIS?
How can an admin "control" the users in a domain using NIS? For
instance, in Windows, the 
admin can use Active Directory to establish a common date format for all
clients.
Can NIS be used for such purposes.

Any pointers would be of great help.
Thanks!

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