openafs/doc/man-pages/pod5/CellServDB.pod

=head1 NAME

CellServDB - Lists the database server machines in AFS cells

=head1 DESCRIPTION

There are two versions of the F<CellServDB> file, both of which have the
same format.  One version is used by an AFS client and lists all of the
database server machines in the local cell and any foreign cell that is to
be accessible from the local client machine.  The other version is used on
servers and lists only the database servers in the local cell.

=head2 Client CellServDB

Along with AFSDB entries in DNS, the client version of the CellServDB file
lists the database server machines in the local cell and any foreign cell
that is to be accessible from the local client machine. Database server
machines run the Authentication Server (optional), Backup Server
(optional), Protection Server, and Volume Location (VL) Server (the
B<kaserver>, B<buserver>, B<ptserver>, and B<vlserver>) processes, which
maintain the cell's administrative AFS databases.

The Cache Manager and other processes running on a client machine use the
list of a cell's database server machines when performing several common
functions, including:

=over 4

=item *

Fetching files. The Cache Manager contacts the VL Server to learn
the location of the volume containing a requested file or directory.

=item *

Creating, viewing, and manipulating protection groups. The B<pts> command
interpreter contacts the Protection Server when users create protection
groups or request information from the Protection Database.

=item *

Populating the contents of the fake F<root.afs> volume mounted at F</afs>
(or the alternative mount point specified in F<cacheinfo>) when B<afsd> is
run in C<-dynroot> mode.  The default contents of this directory will
match the cells listed in the client F<CellServDB> file.

=item *

Authenticating users. Client-side authentication programs (such as an
AFS-modified login utility or the B<klog> command interpreter) contact the
Authentication Server to obtain a server ticket, which the AFS server
processes accept as proof that the user is authenticated. This only
applies to AFS cells using the deprecated Authentication Server instead of
Kerberos v5 and B<aklog>.

=back

The Cache Manager reads the CellServDB file into kernel memory as it
initializes, and not again until the machine next reboots or the client
service restarts. To enable users on the local machine to continue
accessing the cell correctly, update the file whenever a database server
machine is added to or removed from a cell. To update the kernel-resident
list of database server machines without rebooting, use the B<fs newcell>
command.

If the client attempts to access an AFS cell not listed in F<CellServDB>
and B<afsd> was started with the B<-afsdb> option, the Cache Manager will
attempt an AFSDB DNS record lookup and dynamically add the database server
locations for that cell based on the result of the DNS query.  If the
B<-afsdb> option was not used, all AFS cells that will be accessed by a
client machine must either be listed in F<CellServDB> or added with the
B<fs newcell> command.

The F<CellServDB> file is in ASCII format and must reside in the
F</usr/vice/etc> directory on each AFS client machine. Use a text editor
to create and maintain it.

The client version of the F<CellServDB> file is distinct from the server
version, which resides in the F</usr/afs/etc> directory on each AFS server
machine. The client version lists the database server machines in every
AFS cell that the cell administrator wants the machine's users to be able
to access, whereas the server version lists only the local cell's database
server machines.

=head2 Server CellServDB

The server version of the F<CellServDB> file lists the local cell's
database server machines. These machines run the Authentication Server
(optional), Backup Server (optional), Protection Server, and Volume
Location (VL) Server (the B<kaserver>, B<buserver>, B<ptserver>, and
B<vlserver>) processes, which maintain the cell's administrative AFS
databases. The initial version of the file is created with the B<bos
setcellname> command during the installation of the cell's server machine,
which is automatically recorded as the cell's first database server
machine. When adding or removing database server machines, be sure to
update this file appropriately. It must reside in the F</usr/afs/etc>
directory on each AFS server machine.

The database server processes consult the F<CellServDB> file to learn
about their peers, with which they must maintain constant connections in
order to coordinate replication of changes across the multiple copies of
each database. The other AFS server processes consult the file to learn
which machines to contact for information from the databases when they
need it.

Although the server F<CellServDB> file is in ASCII format, do not use a
text editor to alter it. Instead always use the appropriate commands from
the B<bos> command suite:

=over 4

=item *

The B<bos addhost> command to add a machine to the file.

=item *

The B<bos listhosts> command to display the list of machines from the
file.

=item *

The B<bos removehost> command to remove a machine from the file.

=back

In cells that use the Update Server to distribute the contents of the
F</usr/afs/etc> directory, it is customary to edit only the copy of the
file stored on the system control machine. Otherwise, edit the file on
each server machine individually. For instructions on adding and removing
database server machine, see the I<OpenAFS Quick Start> chapter on
installing additional server machines.

=head2 CellServDB Format

Both F<CellServDB> files have the same format:

=over 4

=item *

The first line begins at the left margin with the greater-than character
(C<< > >>), followed immediately by the cell's name without an intervening
space. Optionally, a comment can follow any number of spaces and a number
sign (C<#>), perhaps to identify the organization associated with the
cell.

=item *

Each subsequent line in the entry identifies one of the cell's database
server machines, with the indicated information in order:

=over 4

=item *

The database server machine's IP address in dotted-decimal format.

=item *

One or more spaces.

=item *

A number sign (#), followed by the machine's fully qualified hostname
without an intervening space. This number sign does not indicate that the
hostname is a comment. It is a required field.

=back

=back

No extra blank lines or newline characters are allowed in the file, even
after the last entry. Their presence can prevent the Cache Manager from
reading the file into kernel memory, resulting in an error message.

grand.central.org maintains a list of the database server machines in all
cells that have registered themselves as receptive to access from foreign
cells. When a cell's administrators change its database server machines,
it is customary to register the change with grand.central.org for
inclusion in this file. The file conforms to the required F<CellServDB>
format, and so is a suitable basis for the F<CellServDB> file on a client
machine.  You can download this file from L<http://grand.central.org/>.

=head1 EXAMPLES

The following example shows entries for two cells in a client
F<CellServDB> file and illustrates the required format.

   >abc.com        # ABC Corporation
   192.12.105.2	        #db1.abc.com
   192.12.105.3	        #db2.abc.com
   192.12.107.3	        #db3.abc.com
   >test.abc.com   # ABC Corporation Test Cell
   192.12.108.57        #testdb1.abc.com
   192.12.108.55        #testdb2.abc.com

=head1 SEE ALSO

L<afsd(8)>,
L<bos_addhost(8)>,
L<bos_listhosts(8)>,
L<bos_removehost(8)>,
L<bos_setcellname(8)>,
L<buserver(8)>,
L<fs_newcell(1)>,
L<kaserver(8)>,
L<klog(1)>,
L<ptserver(8)>,
L<vlserver(8)>,
L<upclient(8)>,
L<upserver(8)>

I<OpenAFS Quick Start>

=head1 COPYRIGHT

IBM Corporation 2000. <http://www.ibm.com/> All Rights Reserved.

This documentation is covered by the IBM Public License Version 1.0.  It was
converted from HTML to POD by software written by Chas Williams and Russ
Allbery, based on work by Alf Wachsmann and Elizabeth Cassell.