---
name: "ypset"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ypset/8"
---

# ypset(8)

tell ypbind(8) which NIS server process to use

## NAME

**ypset** – tell [ypbind(8)](/ypbind/8.md) which NIS server process to use

## SYNOPSIS

**ypset** \[**-h** *host*\] \[**-d** *domain*\] *server*

## DESCRIPTION

The **ypset** utility tells the [ypbind(8)](/ypbind/8.md) process on the current machine which NIS server process to communicate with. If *server* is down or is not running a NIS server process, it is not discovered until a NIS client process attempts to access a NIS map, at which time [ypbind(8)](/ypbind/8.md) tests the binding and takes appropriate action.

The **ypset** utility is most useful for binding a NIS client that is not on the same broadcast network as the closest NIS server, but can also be used for debugging a local network's NIS configuration, testing specific NIS client programs, or binding to a specific server when there are many servers on the local network supplying NIS maps.

The options are as follows:

- **-d** *domain*

  Use the NIS domain *domain* instead of the default domain as returned by [domainname(1)](/domainname/1.md).

- **-h** *host*

  Set the NIS binding on *host* instead of the local machine.

## SEE ALSO

[domainname(1)](/domainname/1.md), [ypcat(1)](/ypcat/1.md), [ypmatch(1)](/ypmatch/1.md), [yp(8)](/yp/8.md), [ypbind(8)](/ypbind/8.md)

## AUTHORS

Theo De Raadt