Welcome. It is not as bad as it seems. And, in the end you will likely agree that it is very logical and structured. First, the basics.
OS X Server can enhance your user experience through either mobile accounts with synchronized home folders or through network home folders. Here is the basic difference:
A mobile account is an account created on the server (In Open Directory) but accessed by a workstation (the home folder is on the workstation). You need to apply settings to the account to enable this either through MCX' mobility payload (which is deprecated) or through Profile Manager's mobility payload. In addition to a basic mobile account, you can add home folder sync. This is a process were the home folder is still on the workstation but based on triggers, the data can be synchronized to the server. With proper synchronization setup, you can move back and forth between devices and your data "should" sync to where you move.
The second type is a network home folder. This is exactly what it sounds. The account is created on the server in Open Directory and so is the home folder. The client system will mount a special network home folder shared folder and all user data is accessed over the network. If you are using the Adobe product suite, doing anything with video editing, or have a slow network, this does not work very well. Network home folders are great for schools that use devices on a cart, allowing more students than devices to have a home location that can be accessed regardless of device used.
Ok, so all that being said, the way to get this going is to first prep the server. Disable sleep. Have adequate storage capacity. Then define DNS. Don't use .local domains, they will conflict with Bonjour and you will smash you head into a wall repeatedly. Once DNS is set, then configure Open Directory. Create your users based on what type of home folder style you want. If network home, you will need to enable a network home folder shared folder. If mobile account (with or without syncing) you will need to select a management tool (MCX of Profile Manager) and set policy for the user using the Mobility payload.
Keep in mind that all your workstation still need a "local admin" account. This is the first account created on the machines. You can not get around this. Also, in order for the devices to access the OD users on the Server, you must bind the workstations to the server. If you are using Profile Manager you also must enroll the device. (Keep in mind that binding can be a profile payload so you can do both with one action). If you choose to use MCX then enrolling is not required.
Hope that helps.
Reid
Apple Consultants Network
Author "Yosemite Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store
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