keeping passwd file in sync across master and slave node

[srd]

I have several user accounts located on a master node and their home directories are exported via NFS. Then theres the diskless nodes which boot from a file system also located on the master node, but /etc isn't exported. Rather, the diskless nodes have their own complete file system located under /diskless/gentoo_x86-64.

The problem. If a user changes the passwd on the master node (i.e. /etc/passwd), then I copy that file (and /etc/group) over to the diskless nodes file system located in /diskless/gentoo_x86-64/etc. This way, logging into the master node has the same passwd as the diskless nodes, I just have to be careful to keep accounts in sync across master and diskless nodes.

The problem is that in order for the diskless nodes to see the changes in /diskless/gentoo_x86-64/etc/passwd (or group), I have to restart the diskless nodes.

Is there another way to get the diskless nodes to reread the /etc/passwd file w/o having to reboot?