# Administration Reference

## CellServDB (client version)

Purpose

Lists the database server machines in all cells accessible from the machine

Description

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, Backup Server, Protection Server, and Volume Location (VL) Server (the kaserver, buserver, ptserver, and 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:

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

- Authenticating users. Client-side authentication programs (such as an AFS-modified login utility or the 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.

- Creating protection groups. The pts command interpreter contacts the Protection Server when users create protection groups or request information from the Protection Database.

The Cache Manager reads the CellServDB file into kernel memory as it initializes, and not again until the machine next reboots. 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 fs newcell command.

The CellServDB file is in ASCII format and must reside in the /usr/vice/etc directory on each AFS client machine. Use a text editor to create and maintain it. Each cell's entry must have the following format:

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

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

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

  - One or more spaces.

  - 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.

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.

The AFS Product Support group 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 the AFS Product Support group for inclusion in this file. The file conforms to the required CellServDB format, and so is a suitable basis for the CellServDB file on a client machine. Contact the AFS Product Support group for directions on accessing the file.

The client version of the CellServDB file is distinct from the server version, which resides in the /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.

Examples

The following example shows entries for two cells in a client 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

Related Information

CellServDB (server version)

fs newcell

klog

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