I have a small network (5 users) served by OS X Server 10.8. The network is configured for Network Home directories. I've always liked the idea of being able to login as myself on another machine, but in reality I rarely do that.
Increasingly it seems, Apple support and people on this list imply that Network Home directories are hobbled in some way. I see this too. It's clear, for example, from looking at the logs that iCloud synchronization and Network Homes do not play well together.
Even though my machines are all desktops and always stay in the same place, should I consider changing my config so that each user is set up as a Mobile Account? My impression is that having home directories sitting on a users own piece of hardware will let many newer Apple technoligies work smoothly in instances where I now have grief. Should I switch to Mobile accounts?
BACKGROUND
Perhaps the most annoying and chronic complaint I've had with the Networked Homes and OS X Server in general, going back several versions, is the inability of Address Book/Contacts to provide a shared directory for, say, 4 or 5 users. There Server module for contacts was not intended to be a truely shared collection of editable records. The trick of creating a single user (contactuser) that everyone logs in as for the puprose of sharing the single collection of OS X Server contacts ends up with corrupt records, just as Apple support promises (I still see that method recommended on this board). On top of the Server failing to provide shared contacts, iCloud synchronization of contacts fails, I believe, because of the Network Home directories. The various difficulties the AB/Contacts desktop app suffers as a result of faulty synching wreaks HAVOC on Mail.app as it tries to coordinate with the contact records. All very painful, when it should be basic. I am now synchronizing contact records via Google which actually seems to be working, but I am still afraid everytime Mail.app beachballs for a second or two.
Mac Mini Server, Mac OS X (10.6.4), OS X Server
