I need to integrate a couple of AIX servers into an existing LDAP directory for user authentication and authorization. Versions range from 5 to 7.1.
On some systems (I have yet failed to recognize a pattern) I need to finish the '/etc/passwd' with a line containing a single '+' character for commands line id, login and automount to work. This procedure I took from the IBM Redbook "Integrating AIX into Heterogenous LDAP Environments", p. 125.
I'd be prepared to just accept that. However, I have systems which are integrated perfectly fine into the LDAP without that line in '/etc/passwd', i.e., which just work. I would like to understand exactly what that '+' does and what other files exist to configure the system to use LDAP for authentication and authorization. I have yet failed to graps the difference between systems which require '+' and those that do not.
Frankly, I am kind of afraid to mess with a facility like '/etc/passwd' without understanding what that '+' does exactly and what other options I have to enable LDAP lookup (apparently, others need to exist.)
Grateful for any help, cheers, Christopher