---
name: "ypwhich"
section: "1"
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/ypwhich"
---

# ypwhich(1)

return hostname of NIS server of map master

## NAME

**ypwhich** – return hostname of NIS server of map master

## SYNOPSIS

**ypwhich** \[**-d** *domain*\]\[ \[**-t**\] **-m** \[*mname*\] \| *host*\]

**ypwhich** **-x**

## DESCRIPTION

The **ypwhich** utility tells which NIS server supplies NIS services to a client, or which is the master for a map. If invoked without arguments, it gives the NIS server for the local machine. If *host* is specified, that machine is queried to find out which NIS server it is using.

The options are as follows:

- **-d** *domain*

  Specify a domain other than the default domain.

- **-t**

  Inhibit translation of map nicknames to their corresponding map names.

- **-m** \[*mname*\]

  Find the master NIS server for the named map. No *host* may be specified with the **-m** option. The *mname* argument can be a map name or nickname. If *mname* is omitted, **ypwhich** will produce a list of available maps.

- **-x**

  Display the map nickname table.

## 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), [yppoll(8)](/yppoll/8.md), [ypset(8)](/ypset/8.md)

## AUTHORS

Theo De Raadt