The auto_master table lists all the automounter maps in a domain. For direct maps, the auto_master table provides a map name. For indirect maps, it provides both a map name and the top directory of its mount point. The auto_master table has two columns:
| Column | Content | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Key | Mount point | The top directory into which the map will be mounted. If the map is a direct map, this is a dummy directory, represented with /--. |
| Value | Map name | The name of the automounter map |
For example, assume these entries in the auto_master table:
/home auto_home /-auto_man /programs auto_programs
The first entry names the auto_home map. It specifies the top directory of the mount point for all entries in the auto_home map: /home. (The auto_home map is an indirect map.) The second entry names the auto_man map. Because that map is a direct map, the entry provides only the map name. The auto_man map will itself provide the topmost directory, as well as the full pathname, of the mount points for each of its entries. The third entry names the auto_programs map and, since it provides the top directory of the mount point, the auto_programs map is an indirect map.
All automounter maps are stored as NIS+ tables. By default, the AIX environment provides the auto_master map, which is mandatory, and the auto_home map, which is a great convenience. You can create more automounter maps for a domain, but be sure to store them as NIS+ tables and list them in the auto_master table. For more information about the automounter consult books about the automounter or books that describe the NFS file system.