How can I completely reset home syncing?

I dont know about any complete reset but this is what i'd do.

Make 100% sure that everything is on your machines by switching off airport and unplug then Network port then turn on and check everything is there. Proceed at own risk

if it is and you know what your doing and happy that everything is backed up etc.

Leve the computers off the network until the end

On the Server for each accoun turn off mobile account syncing, creation etc everything in mobility preference should say never.

Set your Home directory in Workgroup manager to None for each of the accounts

Save new settings

Delete both the accounts home folders on the server (you will need the correct permissions to do this) empty trash

Reenable the home folders and create home on save

Go to the mobility preferences and set create home folders when next login etc Check the Use local home template option, Dont set any other options in there yet except under rules -> home sync - Manage -once or always depends on what you want then Apply

Reconnect the computers to the network (I always do this via ethernet not wireless, wireless sometimes causes problems) and restart and log into the account , it will sync away for a while (wireless can be used after the first sync)

Change settings in the mobility after the full sync if you need to and are sure you know what each setting will effect.

NOTE: If you have a huge iTunes library, Movies folder or Photos folder this can take ages perhaps think about taking them out of the sync.

Home syncs always have errors depending on what files are open at the time of sync etc

This is done from memory as i only had to do this about 2 weeks ago but i am fairly confident i didn't miss anything

I've struggled with getting PHD to work flawlessly. There are 2 ways you can reset a sync so it does a FULL Sync -- as if you've never been on the workstation before -- forcing everything in the home folder to the peer.

Here are my standard troubleshooting techiques to get an account to sync.

1. Make sure permissions are good on the workstation.

2. Re-push through the users permissions on the server side -- through to all enclosed files.

3. On server-side and home-side (user's profile), Delete ~/Library/FileSync folder.

4. On server-side and home-side (user's profile), Delete .FileSync folder. This is a hidden file so it will require terminal to do it.

Step 3 & 4 will force the Sync to reset and do a full sync from the server to the client.

If you don't have File Sync logging on the server turned on, I would turn it on. it writes a verbose log from the server's perspective to the Users home folder on the server in /Library/Logs. You can also look at the verbose log on the client located in ~/Library/Logs/FileSync/ -- look at the verbose log.

Many times, I have found that resetting the permissions fixes most cases. Sometimes, I have found that Spotlight _Custom shows up in the permissions of the account and if all the above doesn't work, you could try removing this.

Also -- If none of the above works, look in the logs for the point the sync stops. Sometimes, it's a corrupt file or a corrupt executable.

Another item that will reset the sync -- after the user puts in their password, hold the option-command keys at the same time. A group box question comes up and then a full sync occurs.

Hopefully, some of this answers your questions.

Dalevillemary

Thanks dalevillemary

Even if this post is very old, your solution saved my PHD sync. (server 4 on yosemite, yosemite client)