how do i configure an LDAP client

i have a configured LDAP server and i need to configure a client now, i have edited teh "/etc/ldap.conf", "/etc/openldap/ldap.conf", and "/etc/nsswitch" files to the appropriate values to indicate to the server in question, the required pam modules have been added, added some chenges to the "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" file so that it can authenticate using LDAP.
the thing is that when i try to ssh to that machine it refueses a connection unless i enter a local user name "local to that machine", but if i log into it, and then su, it works and i can log in as any user that is in the ldap server user list but not on the local machines user list.
i would appriciate any help.