Mountain Lion Server upgrade; "error reading settings"

thank heavens I am not the only one am having exactly the same problems and has totally shut my system down. In my case the problem seems to stem for the managment of the airport base station but if you are not using one then it would seem to be a far more embedded problem.

Basically anything that has to give permissions for access to toe ports does not work so Cal, Address, Message, VPN have all crashed somewhat castrating my server.

Was about to do a full reinstall but would rather see if anyone has an answer

I'm having similar problems with 10.8 and 10.7.4... The root cause that I've found is associated with the PostgreSQL database that ships with everything above Lion but I don't know anything other than that. Reinstalling postgres doesn't do anything and I've had to resort to a clean install and slowly adding content back...

Based on another tip, i got on forum. The following help me alot:

# Note, I just cared about open directory accounts, and didn't need any service settings saved

exit server app

sudo mv /Applications/Server.app ~/server.app.backup

# this will start to shutdown services

sudo mv /Llibrary/Server ~/server.library.backup

sudo mv ~/server.app.backup /Applications/Server.app

Now, start server app and do reinitialize again.

My theory (no flames, I am a novice at mac os), lion server handled old /library directory structure in upgrade (whatever was before lion), but os x server assumes directory structure (under /library/server) is new style.

I have/had a couple more issues.

1) I have a airport extreme/time-capsule. server app did get errors reading port settings.

- quick workaound, clear all port/firewall settings via airport, and do the above steps again. Server.app will add back as you enable services.

2) profile manager. I can't enroll a mac. The actual server in this case. The remote management profile fails to install.

- still trying to resolve.

Overrall, os x server seems much more stable than lion server, which I basically gave up on.

Good luck.

I have the final solution and fix but beware you may not like it that much.

Having had all of the above problems with more or less everything I finally pieced it all together from various threads. This will fix both the AEBS control and the central services problems. Dont shout at me for being a bit basic and not coding etc. but it worked for me. If I can avoid code I do as often as possible as am less likely to balls it up!

This method will loose some data but the main files and users do remain

The Fix:

1. Close Server.app

2. Library/Server make a copy of Server file under a diff name as software server files and a few others would appear to still be usable and you will have to re download it all again of you dont copy it back in ( I didn't and now have learned my lesson). then delete the whole of the Server file.

3. Go to Keychain and search all Airport then delete associated keys permissions etc

4. Delete Server.app and reinstall.

5. Start new setup and it will migrate properly with no errors. This time a big green tick will appear!

6. Replace the software update files into the new Library/Server folder if you want to or leave it untill the rest is done

7 Reconfigure any missing bits..... any enrolled devices will have vanished but probably if you have saved the data from this in Library/Server prior to deletion you may be able to reinstate this but I didnt risk it

This is going to be a total pain if in a large organisation but once working the system is excellent with no swapping from one control set to the other. As each service is switched on it auto configures the AEBS and no further errors and a joy to work with unless you really like to get into the nuts and bolts.

Hope this helps and good luck

Thank you!!!!!!! This worked for me! mz

Thx worked for me as well, and didn't lose any of my configuration!

Fixed my problem, too.

I tried both methods and I'm still having issues with my Open Directory. It's stuck in the ON position and I can't turn it off because I get the "Error Reading Settings" message. Any other ideas? 😟

Oh Great! JUST GREAT! I have the same problem, I did a complete fresh install. First I ERASED THE ENTIRE HARD DRIVE, Then Installed a fresh mountain lion, then installed the server with NOTHING ELSE INSTALLED ON THE ENTIRE COMPUTER! Worked ok until I started working in the DNS, and then sudden disaster.

I CANT CHANGE ANYTHING, ALL IT SAYS IS ERROR READING SETTINGS. THIS *****!

This worked for me...thank you muchly.

What do you mean by:

3. Go to Keychain and search all Airport then delete associated keys permissions etc

I tried going through this with what I thought would work and it just came back...

Cierra todos los servicios excepto compartir archivos, DNS y Open Directory y he realizado los siguientes pasos para forzar a apache y forzar un restablecimiento. Incluso tratando de detener el servicio web utilizando sudo serveradmin detener la web sigue fallando con los errores anteriores sobre xswebconfig y métodos indefinidos de las clases de nil.

Solución:

sudo apachectl stop

sudo serveradmin command web:command=restoreFactorySettings

sudo serveradmin start web