Mmleif
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How to reset users and groups in Server.app?

Recently after change settings in the Server.app (like turn off/on open directory, delete/add certificates), I got a strange problem:

In the users and groups list, it display all local users and groups (looks like system users and groups, about 100 users and groups, but this is a new server)

 

I tried reset the server.app by following

howto reinstall/reinitialize os x server

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT200271?viewlocale=en_US

 

These users and groups still showing there.

 

Have you seen this before and how can I completely reset the server.app to factory default so that I can start over the set up?

Mac mini, OS X Server

Posted on Oct 8, 2014 5:57 PM

by Strontium90,Solvedanswer
Strontium90 Strontium90
Level 5 (4,087 points)
Servers Enterprise
A:

It sounds like you simply have enabled "Show System Accounts."  To hide them, launch Server.app.  Go to the View menu and choose "Hide System Accounts."

 

Do not try to delete or alter these accounts.

 

Reid

Apple Consultants Network

Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

Author "Mavericks Server – Control and Collaboration" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

Posted on Oct 9, 2014 4:43 AM

Close
Mmleif

Q: How to reset users and groups in Server.app?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Strontium90,Solvedanswer

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Oct 9, 2014 4:43 AM in response to Mmleif
    Level 5 (4,087 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 9, 2014 4:43 AM in response to Mmleif

    It sounds like you simply have enabled "Show System Accounts."  To hide them, launch Server.app.  Go to the View menu and choose "Hide System Accounts."

     

    Do not try to delete or alter these accounts.

     

    Reid

    Apple Consultants Network

    Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

    Author "Mavericks Server – Control and Collaboration" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

  • by Mmleif,

    Mmleif Mmleif Oct 9, 2014 4:55 AM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 9, 2014 4:55 AM in response to Strontium90

    Thank you very much Reid!

     

    This solved all the problem!

  • by Mmleif,

    Mmleif Mmleif Oct 9, 2014 2:12 PM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 9, 2014 2:12 PM in response to Strontium90

    HI Reid,

     

    If I deleted some system users and groups in server.app.

    Then I just reinstall the Mac os x copy in the same drive, keeping all data.

    This is not complete fresh install

     

    will this fix the deleted user issue?

     

    cheers

  • by Strontium90,

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Oct 9, 2014 3:24 PM in response to Mmleif
    Level 5 (4,087 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 9, 2014 3:24 PM in response to Mmleif

    In theory, that should restore the users.  You can do some surgery if you are really brave.  But the reinstall generally should be enough. 

     

    These accounts are in the DSLocal data store.  Basically, this is very similar to the any OS X machine.  Apple keeps a default copy of the Local Database here:

     

    /System/Library/DirectoryServices/DefaultLocalDB/Default

     

    Should you need to reset a machine to the default local database, you can remove the current database (/var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default) and then copy the default one to the same location.  I would not go this far unless the reinstall was unsuccessful. 

     

    To check, you can run this command:

     

    dscl . list /Users

     

    That will list all the Users in the local DB.   To get a count, pipe to wc

     

    dscl . list /Users | wc -l

     

    On a Server that I just jumped on, I see 79 users and 111 groups (dscl . list /Groups | wc -l)  But this is a system will man SACL groups so I likely have more than the default.

     

    Hope this continues to help.  Probably more info that you want. 

     

    Reid

    Apple Consultants Network

    Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

    Author "Mavericks Server – Control and Collaboration" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

  • by Mmleif,

    Mmleif Mmleif Oct 10, 2014 5:25 AM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2014 5:25 AM in response to Strontium90

    Mine is 77 users and 111 groups. I think it all comes back normal after the reinstall.

     

    Thank you very much!~