The -null Map

The -null map is used to ignore mapping entries that do not apply to your host, but which would otherwise be inherited from NIS or LDAP maps.

The -null option causes AutoFS to ignore AutoFS map entries that affect the specified directory. For example, an NIS (or LDAP) auto_master map is configured such that AutoFS mounts the auto_home map on /home, as follows:

/home auto_home

You can include the following line in the /etc/auto_master file, before the +auto_master entry, so that the NIS auto_home map is not used for the system:

/home -null
+auto_master

	NOTE: The -null entry must precede the included map entry.

Turning Off an AutoFS Map with the -null Map

To turn off a map using the -null map, follow these steps:

1. Add a line with the following syntax to the AutoFS master map:

   local_directory -null

2. If AutoFS is running, enter the following command on each client that uses the map, to force AutoFS to reread its maps:

   /usr/sbin/automount