HT202406: Restore macOS Server from a Time Machine backup

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DenisF
Level 2 (150 points)

Q: Incomplete Moutain Lion Server Restore

Following a power supply failure I had to erase/reformat the boot disk (Server HD) of my mac Mini server (with 2 disks) running Mountain Lion Server.

After restoring its content using Time Machine, I noted that the Open Directory was not working properly (local users are OK but local network users have disapeared, even if their home directories are still there). Also I get this message in Server.App: "Multiple errors occurred on the server while processing commands. "

 

My Time machine is a time capsule connected via the network.

 

Reading Apple support article ht5139 I found: "If you try to restore from a network-based Time Machine backup, not all settings will be restored correctly."

Could it be the source of my problem?

 

Is there a work around solution?

 

Can I restore the open directory files? if yes how?

 

Thanks in advance

Mac mini, OS X Server

Posted on Sep 3, 2013 11:54 AM

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DenisF

Q: Incomplete Moutain Lion Server Restore

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  • by FrequentFlyer,Helpful

    FrequentFlyer FrequentFlyer Sep 3, 2013 9:37 PM in response to DenisF
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 3, 2013 9:37 PM in response to DenisF

    Hi DenisF - A local TM backup stores extended attributes.  That is not always the case with network storage devices, hence the warning in HT5139.  If you do not have a OD archive, your best bet would be to re-create the users and re-assign the directory rights in the Server Manager Storage tab.  If the number of users is small, this will be fairly quick.

  • by DenisF,

    DenisF DenisF Sep 5, 2013 11:44 AM in response to FrequentFlyer
    Level 2 (150 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 11:44 AM in response to FrequentFlyer

    Many thanks for your answer.

    In the same article HT5139, it is written:

    OS X Server also includes a process called ServerBackup which works with Time Machine. ServerBackup performs daily backups of Open Directory (if it is enabled) .... These daily backups are included in the Time Machine backup of Lion Server.

     

    How can I know if the daily backups of Open Directory is enabled? is it easily configurable? how?

    if done can I recover the daily backup content? how?

  • by FrequentFlyer,

    FrequentFlyer FrequentFlyer Sep 5, 2013 7:07 PM in response to DenisF
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 7:07 PM in response to DenisF

    Open Directory is backed up automatically. That feature is not configurable as far as I know.  Restoring the boot volume will restore the OD Master.