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Open Directory fails to migrate with Lion Server upgrade

I had a completly up-to-date version of Snow Leopard with a master Open Directory instance.

Somewhere through the Lion Server installion I was told that some services had failed to be configured (yellow warning triangle).


Once the system was rebooted, I found that I only had an local user directory with an Administrator account. Apparently it had remembered by password for this account as I could log in. I attempted to create a new Open Directory master with various tools, but each time this fails. The included Server tool tells me that the machine is already configured for Open Directory and won't let me start over. That would be fair enough if I could get to whatever it thinks in the existing configuration.


I downloaded the remote server tools and tried those. The Open Directory service is shown as not running, and the only thing you can do is attempt to change the configuration to "master" or one of the other two. Trying to recreate a master here causes an error that the networking isn't configured properly (failed to resolve a hostname). As far as I can tell the basic networking is set up just fine (though this machine's DNS service isn't running, but that's OK).


So, I don't know how to go forward to recover my old Snow Leopard Open Directory database, and I can't start over with a new database. Instead, for now, I have created new local accounts and had this reconnect with the local home directories on the machine. This worked fine (though I had to chown the contents of a few home directories to resync with user IDs).


Hopefully my Lion installation is OK besides this issue with OD. My wikis and other things seem to be working fine. Still, it's not great for one's confidence when (AFAIK) an ordinary non-hacked or customised Snow Leopard server doesn't migrate properly to the new version.


Maybe someone has some clues that might yet help me to get my old OD database back, and indeed allow the new Lion OD service to run again?

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 3:10 PM

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29 replies

Jul 20, 2011 8:26 PM in response to applemjackson

Noticed in my Snow Leopard Server that it appears only my local admin account seems to migrate. None of my Users or Groups migrate.


Something must fail during that Services upgrade process that fails to migrate my Users, Groups and their associated files, etc.


I too have a basic Snow Leopard Server installed with no modifications to it. It's on a MacMini3,1.


I too would have expected this to be a smooth transition. I only have like 8 users setup on the thing and very little use in terms of email, files, etc. I don't know how much more basic this setup could be.

Jul 20, 2011 11:16 PM in response to Flashwalker

Ugh - same boat here. This *****. I've spent all day working around the problems they created by dumbing down the Server/Services GUI. I was able to restore my OD users from a backup sparseimage though the (old) Server Admin tool.


The crazy thing... when I first bring up the new Server gui, I can see my OD users flash on the Account/Users list for a second... then they disappear. The second I can see them I notice they do have a little globe icon next to them - so it looks like they should be accessable via the interface. Logins and access work as expected for those original OD users, but there's no way to administer them in the new Server gui... only the old Workgroup Manager...


It flat out looks like it was designed for only new users for Lion Server - which I'd expect is exactly the opposite case at the moment. I'd imagine that nearly 90% of the people installing it today were upgrading from previous Server versions....

Jul 21, 2011 1:34 PM in response to Flashwalker

Dito, same here.


There is only the possibility to create a new open directory - but no way to retry the import - shame on you, apple. Sorry, but microsoft has never caused such a blackout in the past!


I will try to download the full featured server tools for 10.7 from apple - and then do a retry... but it's really a pain in the ***!

Jul 21, 2011 2:13 PM in response to Flashwalker

Same problem here.


The 10.7 server tools are not helpful at all, and seem to conflict with the new interface. Using it for simple things, like attempting to set up the DNS again triggers 4 digit error codes, without useful information.


To make matters worse, Mac OS X Lion is not able to access my ReadyNAS where my backups are.


Apple should not have released Lion Server.

Jul 21, 2011 5:14 PM in response to Flashwalker

I'm having the exact same issue. I upgraded from 10.6.8 on a 2010 Xserve. I have no modifications to the OS, in fact I have no other software on the server besides Apple's server admin and FileMaker Pro. I only have 5 users.


I assumed it would be a smooth transition so I upgraded as soon as it was released. (I was really looking forward to having push email again with my iPhones). I followed the upgrade instructions per Apple, including archiving up my OD before the upgrade.


After installation I got the yellow warning symbol and an error stating some services couldn't be upgraded. Once I logged in my entire open director was gone. I wasn't too worried because I knew I just archived my OD and could simply restore it, so I thought.


Turns out Apple's archive feature in Server Admin did nothing. I watched the status bar move across the screen after I selected a archive location and set a filename and password. But it never actually did anything because when I navigated to the folder to restore the OD there was nothing in the file.


Being frustrated I decided to just restore my server to 10.6.8 from my TimeMachine backup.


Once restored I tried archiving the OD again and again, via Server Admin, but it never actually did anything. After it states it's complete I'd look in the folder and it'd still be empty.


Then to add insult to injury, a glitch in the stupid App store resulted in me being charged 5 times for the upgrade.

(Why can't we download a DMG with the upgrade, Apple?)


To say the least, I'm highly disapointded so far.

Jul 22, 2011 10:46 AM in response to Flashwalker

I caved and decided to archive all my user data so that I could wipe the MacMini and do a fresh install of Mac OS X Lion and Lion Server.


Everything seemed to go well until I tried to designate the MacMini as the Network's OD. It seemed to hang on User and Workgroup migration and then I got an error message telling me to restart. (I'm thinking, really? this is a fresh install and it can't even handle this without failing???) After that I tried to setup the Profile Manager to manage devices and it started to walk me through the process of designating the server as the Network's OD. After entering all the prompts I get an error message saying the server is already an OD. But, I can't connect to it. So Lion thinks it's and OD, but it's alternate personality thinks it's not.


What am I doing wrong. I started this install from scratch. Followed each one of the guided setup steps apple puts on their new management console and it always seems to fail when doing anything around User/Workgroup/OD which then seems to hose the ability to enable other services like Profile Manager's Manage Devices.


All I have to say is thank god for Time Machine. It made it relatively easy to restore back to my Snow Leopard Server in about 30 minutes each time this has failed.


I'm getting ready to sell my Apple stock after seeing how the company has handled things on multiple fronts over the past year. All I can think of is that Jobs kept the ship tight and his absence is going to really screw things up at Apple. Just need to unload my shares before the rest of the public figures out the company is going in the crapper. Ipad 2 rollout was screwed up, they screwed pro video editors with their revamp of final cut and now this. It's sad, really sad.

Jul 22, 2011 1:41 PM in response to Flashwalker

OK, the multiple billing issues seem to have been resolved. See below:


"

Dear Michael,


Steven here from the iTunes Store again. I am sorry about that. I will be happy to address your billing issue. I have done some research, and you can install OS X Lion and OS Lion Server to all your computer at no extra cost. All you have to do is make sure that you are signed into the account that you originally purchased them from.


I see that we have charged you multiple times for downloading them again. This was caused by an error in the Mac App Store due to the high number of people downloading OS X Lion. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.


I have taken a look at your account, and I am pleased to let you know, I have issued a refund for the extra charges. In five to seven business days, a credit of $189.95 should be posted to the credit card that appears on the receipt for that purchase.


If you have any further questions or concerns regarding this issue, please let me know and I would be more than happy to address them for you. Thank you very much for being part of the iTunes Store family, Michael, and I hope you have a great day.


Sincerely,


Steven

Apple Advisor"

Jul 22, 2011 1:48 PM in response to Flashwalker

Looks like Apple is on the case with regard to this OD issue(s). See Below:


I'm back at 10.6.8 and will be running the upgrade again for them so they can grab log files to look at what is going on.


"

My name is Bryan and I work with a team of AppleCare Advisors who follow up on cases for Apple Engineering.


Engineering requested I ask you a few questions regarding your post on the following forum. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3191125?tstart=0#15665486


I am contacting you via Email because I was unable to get a hold of you via phone.


Please let me know the best time and number to reach you using the information below.


Bryan

Apple"

Jul 22, 2011 1:58 PM in response to applemjackson

He just contacted me as well.


Sounded like it was a large and unexpected issue for them... and he assured me that the "engineers are working around the clock" to fix these issues.


He was only collecting log files, and had minimal information about the issues. I asked if I'd hear back and was told that me that the only response I'd get would be the release of the 10.7.1 Server Update...

Jul 25, 2011 4:13 AM in response to Flashwalker

I installed Server.app on a Mini that has never run the server processes before. I attemted to create a new Open Directory by using the "Manage > Network Users" menu option. The app says it created the directory but there was a problem migrating users. It then asked me to reboot. After the reboot, the menu option is gone and It appears that I'm stuck.


Apple, I've got a VNC running on my mini if you want to connect to it


-Dean

Jul 26, 2011 4:02 AM in response to applemjackson

I managed to get things working. Here's what I did:


On my server (mini) from a terminal window as root I deleted my open directory:

slapconfig -destroyldapserver


Next I rebooted for good measure.


Next I ran Server.app again and the "Manage > Network Users" menu item re-appeared.


I created a new Open Directory but this time I used my machine host name (mini) rather than a made up domain name.


The OD was created and everything worked.


Next I downloaded "Lion Server Admin Tools 10.7" from here http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1419


Server Admin tools lets you create Portable Home Directories....that's what I was after all along. (not sure why this funcitonality wasn't included in Server.app)


On my client machine (macbook), I am able to register for my new OD anonymously but I still can't register using a login (it just stalls on binding). But either way, It lets me login using a network account and sync my Portable Home Directory. Now i'll be ready for new macbooks and have a roaming profile....

Jul 26, 2011 6:48 AM in response to Flashwalker

I started out having a strange issue where the App Store in Snow Leopard Server said that I already had Lion installed. I then went to purchase and download Lion Server which told me I also needed Lion client? I purchased and it then begand downloading but gave me an error that the file (Lion Server) could not be downloaded. When I went to check on the purchased tab it showed that Lion client was downloading. It downloaded rebooted and attempted to upgrade services but then . . .


I had the same issue with Lion Server installion where I was told that some services had failed to be configured (yellow warning triangle). When I booted into Lion for the first time it had none of my wikis and none of my users!


After a nightmare upgrade from Leopard Server to Snow Leopard Server where my wikis were actually destroyed and I had to manually extract data and rebuild them I took better precautions this time. I had two exact clones of my Server HD on two different drives! I rebooted from one of my cloned drives and I am back in business on Snow Leopard Server.


I will not be upgrading to Lion Server until some resolution of these issues is achieved in later releases. I am afraid this is typical of Server upgrades with Apple for me. Perhaps there is some issue with my installation but all was (and is) working fine under Snow Leopard.

Open Directory fails to migrate with Lion Server upgrade

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