John Caradimas

Q: Strange problem on Mac Server 5

I have a very strange problem on my Mac server (in reality an early 2009 iMac running Server.app 5.2). I am not sure when the problem started, but here is what happens.

 

The Mac has one internal disk (SSD) for system and apps and an external firewire disk for the users home directories. The only user directory which exists on the system disk (let's call it ServerSSD) is admin's home directory. All other user directories are located on the external disk (let's call it UserHomes). Those additional users are Open Directory users (Local Network Directory).

 

If I log in the server using admin's account, I can see all disks and everything is fine. If I log in using the user name of a local network user, who doesn't have admin permissions, everything is fine until I log out. When I log out, and log in again as the administrator, then what I find is:

 

- The UserHomes disk has been dismounted from the system.

- An empty directory called UserHomes has been created in /Volumes, owned by the non-privileged user I used to log in before.

 

If I erase that directory, I can remount the UserHomes disk and everything is back to normal. But if another, non-privileged user tries to log in, he obviously can't log in, because his user directory does not exist. The only way I can get out of this condition, is by rebooting the computer.

 

I've tried formatting the UserHomes disk and copying over the user directories from a backup, no improvement (probably the backup is made after the problem started). I've tried reinstalling El Capitan still no change.

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Posted on Oct 3, 2016 6:13 AM

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Q: Strange problem on Mac Server 5

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  • by dwbrecovery,

    dwbrecovery dwbrecovery Oct 3, 2016 7:32 AM in response to John Caradimas
    Level 3 (667 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 3, 2016 7:32 AM in response to John Caradimas

    Hi John,

    - try via terminal.app to keep all disks mounted.  reboot required:

    sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/autodiskmount AutomountDisksWithoutUserLogin -bool YES

     

    It may have been checked already:

    - disable all sleep & wake schedules and settings, within System Preferences -> Energy Saver  and perform a SMC reset on the Server: Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    hth,

    cheers dwbrecovery

  • by John Caradimas,

    John Caradimas John Caradimas Oct 3, 2016 12:17 PM in response to dwbrecovery
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 3, 2016 12:17 PM in response to dwbrecovery

    Thanks for your reply, appreciated.

     

    First point: It was already set to Yes.

     

    Second point: The computer is set to never sleep, and so are the disks. The only thing set to sleep is the display. And I've done the SMC reset a couple of times, no change.

  • by John Caradimas,

    John Caradimas John Caradimas Oct 4, 2016 2:33 AM in response to John Caradimas
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 4, 2016 2:33 AM in response to John Caradimas

    Further to the above, I've removed the share point for the UserHomes disk, and formatted the disk. I also deleted some of the users, whose home directories were on that disk, and recreated them from scratch. Even with these steps, the problem of dismounting the UserHomes disk and creating a UserHomes directory inside /Volumes, owned by the non-privileged user, still persists. Actually, it happens also with admin privileged users, if their home directory is in that drive.

     

    I am at a loss!!!

  • by dwbrecovery,

    dwbrecovery dwbrecovery Oct 4, 2016 9:02 AM in response to John Caradimas
    Level 3 (667 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 4, 2016 9:02 AM in response to John Caradimas

    Hi, understand.

    - maybe try a Home Folder setup to another external drive, usb, check using SMB or AFP, check if issue is duplicated.

    and/or reset the Server.app:

     

    - Check that there is a current backup of the Server.

    - Note: Server Services will be stopped

    - On Applications/Server.app :   Right Click -> Move to Trash

    - Wait until a "Server app removal detected." window appears and click the "OK" button to remove the window,

    - Open Trash.  Right click on Server -> Put Back

    - Open Applications/Server and wait until reset/setup completes.

     

    Data for the Services gets retained during this reset.

    For this case, run Terminal command before and after reset : sudo serveradmin settings all > filename

    and compare the services afp, smb, sharing

     

    cheers, dwbrecovery

  • by John Caradimas,

    John Caradimas John Caradimas Oct 6, 2016 6:49 AM in response to John Caradimas
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 6, 2016 6:49 AM in response to John Caradimas

    Hi dwbrecovery,

     

    I didn't have the time to add another disk and try creating a home directory in it, but I did try the other thing, removing the Server.app and re-installing it. Same thing, when a Local Network user logs out, the UserHomes disk is replaced by a directory called UserHomes (owned by the Local Network user) and the disk doesn't get mounted when another user logs in.

     

    I'll try adding another disk and keep you posted.

     

    Again, many thanks for your time.