Concepts: About NetInfo Binding


When a Mac OS X computer starts up, it can bind its local directory domain to a shared NetInfo domain. The shared NetInfo domain can bind to another shared NetInfo domain. The binding process creates a hierarchy of NetInfo domains.

A NetInfo hierarchy has a branched structure. Local domains at the bottom of the hierarchy bind to shared domains, which can in turn bind to other shared domains, and so on. Each domain binds to only one shared domain, but a shared domain can have any number of domains bind to it. A shared domain is called a parent domain, and each domain that binds to it is a child domain. At the top of the hierarchy is one shared domain that doesn't bind to another domain; this is the root domain.

A Mac OS X computer can bind to a shared NetInfo domain by using any combination of three protocols:  static, broadcast, or DHCP.

If you configure a computer to use multiple binding protocols and a parent is not located with one protocol, another one is used. The protocols are used in this order:  static, DHCP, broadcast.