Ok, is it possible to run RIS on a simple/dumb network that doesn't have a local DNS or AD server and depends on local /etc/hosts files for name resolution?

thanks

No - RIS requires Active Directory to store an query data. However, having one server running as a DC and running RIS is possible (not recommended, but possible). Your DC would also have to run it's own DNS server for AD as well...

No - RIS requires Active Directory to store an query data. However, having one server running as a DC and running RIS is possible (not recommended, but possible). Your DC would also have to run it's own DNS server for AD as well...

As Cluberto says

You MUST have AD, DNS and also DHCP.... no way around it =)