Using Server to Sync My Home Folders

Portable Home Directories are what you want for this. Make sure the user is created on the server (Network node). Set the appropriate syncing options in WGM (e.g. if you want to just sync the Documents folder). Next, go to the client machine and under "Login Options" add your server to "Network Account Server". On next login for that account, you should get the option to sync. I'd backup the data just in case before hand, but if my memory serves, like future syncs, you are given the option to select the diffs between accounts during synchronization. "Select All" from the client account.

Well, from a technical perspective, the functionality works with as many accounts as the server hardware and network can handle. I used to use PHDs extensively. Your considerations are 1) how often will the machine be on a reasonable network connection to sync? 2). What is the size of the data in the documents folder? Both of these are based on your personal usage. So, the wisdom of the decision to use PHDs is relative to your needs.

I've explained the process above of converting existing accounts. Are you familiar with how to follow those steps? (e.g. are you familiar with configuring syncing in WGM?). The difficulty is relative to your knowledge on how to execute those steps. Lastly, as noted in my comment, you can set what part of the home folder gets synced.

Perhaps we should start at the beginning... Have you opened up WGM and looked at the settings for syncing? Do you understand how they work?

These instructions look fine. As isolated tasks, these are common administrative functions performed on OSX clients and servers. So, you'll learn a bit in the process about how the overall process works. Some of the steps I've outlined in the message above (e.g. binding the client to the server via the "Use Network Account Server"). As long as you backup the data ahead of time, this process is non-destructive. I can walk you through each one.

Can I ask what your server/admin experience is?

In terms of your question: Syncing generally goes client => server. In other words, when you plug your laptop into the network on Friday and run a sync, the updates made to the documents get sent to the server. In the cases where a newer version of a file is on the server, as opposed to the client, you will get a dialog asking to select which one to choose (which I alluded to above). Does that help? Were you planning on ever making changes to a document on the server side? (i.e. logging into the MP and working directly).

It does not use rsync. It uses an Apple designed process. I'd suggest you try a test account for PHD to see if you like the way it works.

JaimeMagiera wrote:

Set the appropriate syncing options in WGM (e.g. if you want to just sync the Documents folder).

Just a comment about Workgroup Manager. It's basically depreciated in Mountain Lion in favor of Profile Manager. Whether that's good or bad, I have no position.

Engender, I'm pretty much an OS X Server noob. I played with Lion Server a lot for months, got pretty close what I wanted, then ML came out. So I bit the bullet and went with ML. What you're trying to set up, i.e. a Portable Home Directory / Mobility that syncs only selective folders in your Home directory, I did with Profile Manager; I sync Documents, and some other select folders on my MBP to my Mini server.

It wasn't *that* bad, but as Jaime recommended it's best when dealing with it the first time to use a testuser or two to see how it works. I had the basics down but held off until I installed ML on my MBP. When I installed ML on MBP, I backed up my Lion install on my MBP to an external, wiped the HD, and installed ML fresh/clean on my MBP. I set up my everyday user at that point with a PHD/Mobility account. And tested evern more. Thereafter I just moved files from the external to the internal HD.

You could basically do something similar if the user account with a PHD is a new user. I usually make the first user on my Macs a local Administrator account, which isn't the one I use everyday. My everyday account is a non-Admin account.

It's true - WGM is deprecated - profile manager is the way to go moving forward.