Network user can't see local home directory

Question

Level 2

461 points

Network user can't see local home directory

Hi there,

I have a Mac Mini running Lion Server with Directory Services turned on. I've been using this to allow network users to log into Lion clients, as well as set up mobile accounts. This has been working fine.

Now I've just created a new network user for use with a Mountain Lion client and have experienced some strangeness with this new user's home directory. The binding to the directory was fine, and the credentials for the network user were fine. However, when logged in, this new user has his home drive mapped to /Network/Servers/<servername>/Users/<username> rather than the expected /Users/<username>. This has bad side-effects. For instance, Chrome tries to save downloads to the server instead of locally.

What I can't work out is why the home directory isn't pointing to a local location. The other users (on Lion) have the same home directories defined in their Open Directory profiles. The only difference is the new user is on Mountain Lion, but I don't think this has any bearing to the problem.

Can anyone offer some advice?

Benjamin

MacBook Pro 2.26 GHz, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Aug 28, 2012 2:55 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 28, 2012 10:52 AM in response to Ben S.

Yep same problem here, there does seem to be a common problem with 10.8 users logging into a 10.8 server, while the same user can log in fine on a 10.7 mac. several post on here with the same issue

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Answer 2

Ben S. Author

Level 2

461 points

Aug 28, 2012 11:05 AM in response to Kevin Neal

Thanks, Kevin.

I've booked an appointment with a Genius at my local Apple store, so I'll update the thread afterwards.

Benjamin

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Answer 3

Aug 28, 2012 11:07 AM in response to Ben S.

It would be great to hear what they say, I haven't got a apple store nearby, hope they can help!

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Answer 4

Ben S. Author

Level 2

461 points

Aug 29, 2012 7:36 AM in response to Kevin Neal

So I took my Mac Mini running OS X 10.8 Server, along with two client laptops: one exhibiting the problem I described, and the other where network logins and home directories worked as intended.

Long story short, the guys at the Bar couldn't figure it out. The user definitions in Open Directory seemed ok, but they still couldn't work out why no local home directories were being created. Not sure if this helps, but in trouble-shooting, we also discovered that trying to login with a network user on the problematic laptop didn't work when the server wasn't on the network. It's as if the server is required to be present.

Anyway, the case has been referred to the business team, which is supposed to have more expertise with OS X Server.

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Answer 5

Aug 29, 2012 7:54 AM in response to Ben S.

So you do have it working on one Laptop running 10.8? Does everything work ok on the one that does log in, ie there is another bug floating around where users logged into a network home can't open Mail without it wiping all their address book contacts.

Are there any differences between the two laptops ie were they both upgraded from Lion, or was one a new purchase / clean install.

I ask because the two macs we have running mountain lion here, neither can log in to network homes. Tho one did log in initially but with the errors I decribed above, but now since trying to log into ML Server and failing it can no longer log into Lion Server either!

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Answer 6

Ben S. Author

Level 2

461 points

Aug 29, 2012 8:04 AM in response to Kevin Neal

Hi, Kevin.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. The laptop on which everything (serverless logins, properly located home directories, home sync) works is running 10.7. I've not managed to get it working at all with a 10.8 client.

In the meantime, I upgraded my server as well to 10.8, which in retrospect might not have been a good idea, but I was thinking that might solve the issue. The Genius was telling me that the Server Admin tools don't exist for 10.8 (although Workgroup Manager still works).

Benjamin

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Answer 7

Aug 29, 2012 8:09 AM in response to Ben S.

You sound like you are doing exactly the same as me, tho I've kept the server running 10.7 and made a completely fresh install of 10.8 on a new partition, I reset up OD and all users from scratch and didn't import anything, and that didn't work either, which makes me think it is just a Client issue not a server issue.

In my case while no 10.8 users can do network logins, I have one using Mobile Homes instead, and they can log in but a lot of the folders in their Library are not accessible and look like files instead of folders, so they can carry on working for now but its not ideal

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Answer 8

Aug 29, 2012 8:11 AM in response to Kevin Neal

I should say the folders look like folders to the user once logged in, but the synced user folder back on the server is incomplete, so basically they are just a local user that is partially syncing some of their user folder.

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Answer 9

Aug 29, 2012 9:14 AM in response to Ben S.

someone suggested this, I haven't tried yet tho http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4700

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Answer 10

Aug 29, 2012 9:23 AM in response to Kevin Neal

Ignore it, it doesn't do any good, and doesn't really relate

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