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Level 1

16 points

Open directory doesn't work

I want to use open directory on my university lab network. The server (10.8) is not in the same room as the clients (also 10.8). Each computer (server and clients) have their own external FQDN's and associated IP addresses. I turned on Open Directory using server.app on my sever. I then go to a client and do: system preferences>users and groups>login options>Network account server: Join>open directory utility. From there I do File>connect. When I type in the FQDN of the server, along with an admin account name and password, I get the following message:

Can't connect to server

Directory Services may not be installed on the remote server, they may be turned off, or the URL may have been entered incorrectly

None of this is true, unless "Directory Services" means something other than Open Directory. So what am I missing here?

Also, I notice that when, on the server, I select Open Directory in server.app, the on-off slide icon slides on as it appears (as it if was off until I selected Open Directory). This behavior doesn't happen with any other service on server.app.

Any ideas?

Posted on Aug 18, 2012 1:20 PM

35 replies

Sep 7, 2012 12:14 PM in response to JaimeMagiera

The DNS service this good ... So far all services work except the open directory that is not reachable from outside the local network

Sep 7, 2012 12:41 PM in response to sergiofromfatima

Have you read through this thread and tried the various suggestions on how to debug this issue? The logs you posted are not OpenDirectory logs. Also, what do you mean that OpenDirectory is not reachable from outside the local network? How are you testing its availability?

haykong

Level 1

119 points

Sep 7, 2012 1:38 PM in response to pts

hey PTS,

Did you ever get the DNS Server to work for you?

Note: Your situation is not the normal small business server situation. Your situation requires more knowledge and and understanding of your situation.

1) First suggestion in troubleshooting is to make sure services are working correctly on the LAN on the same subnet. etc DNS/Opendirectory

Test it with another desktop/laptop in the same room or subnet.

Note: OpenDirectory is a LDAP Server.

2) (something to keep in mind) Since you're in a university situation where each area has different subnets you're in a much more complex network environment. Do you know the normal sysadmin who setup the routers between different areas?

Note: certain network switches might be configured to give more security and some ports might be blocked. Only way around that situation is to contact the sysadmin who setup the network switches.

3) If DNS server is configured fine and works fine on a computer on the same subnet.... the next step is try it outside the subnet with one computer.

Sep 7, 2012 2:37 PM in response to JaimeMagiera

I have read and tried...

When I use the Directory Utility.app this warning appears: Can't connect to directory server. Error: Connection failed to the directory server. (2100)

But when I'm on the local network no longer appears...

Jul 31, 2013 4:22 PM in response to pts

So I gotta jump in and ask a question. My OD is 50/50. Some days I never have an issue, some days all I have are problems. Today, I went to a client mac I had bound to my OD last week. Logged in fine with my OD account last week. Tried to do so today and it just hung. Logged in as root on the client mac and saw my OD was red lighted in the system pref>Users and Groups>Login Options. Went about a few other things, read all through this thread and then went back to system pref, checked the OD status and now it was green. I am starting to think the days I have issues really arent issues but that it takes a Mac literally 30 minutes sometimes to get a response from the OD server. What is so odd to me is that I can conenct with AFP with my OD account to the OD server for file share when the client is seeing the OD server as red. Anyone else seen this before? Is this normal? Normally I would think I set it up wrong but I can't figure out how it could be wrong yet working perfectly except sometimes a client shows red for OD but green back on its own with zero changes at all to the server or the client. We are primarily an AD network and the majority of my mac clients are golden triangle but the OD is NOT joined/bound to AD. LOL I'm probably in the worse case scenario. Not looking for a fix as much as confirmation that I am not crazy and this is normal. I have no issues firing up the systems 30 minutes earlier than users would log in if thats what it takes.

Open directory doesn't work