frozeefrank

Q: Server 5.1.7 on El Capitan: create a user with a custom home folder location

I recently upgraded to El Capitan on my server after an apple senior advisor told me that the Server 5.1.7 had a bunch of bug fixes regarding Open Directory(which I plan on using down the road). Since WorkGroup Manager is not compatible with 10.11...

Is there a way to create a user with a custom home folder location? When I create a user in Server, I can choose to create a home folder with or without a disk limit or to make the user service only. My problem is that I have no way(that I know of) in the user creation window to change the location of that home folder.

 

I tried to create a template from a user with a "custom" home folder location(Volume/Promise Pegasus/Home 2016/etc...) but when I create the user, the home folder is not in the specified path.

 

The "work around" I found for this batch of user is to create them in the default location and then move them on my Promise Pegasus raid, change the path in the advance option of the each user and reassign the proper permissions.

It wouldn't be so much of a problem if I would be dealing with a dozen or so users. But I have to manage/create about 130-150 users every 5-6 months.

 

I would assume that there is an easier way to create a user with a custom home folder location. It would not make sense that apple deletes WorkGroup manager and does not replace its features.

 

Best case scenario is that I'm doing it the wrong and feel free to let me know if that is the case!

 

Thank you,

Francis

Server, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 10, 2016 6:35 AM

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Q: Server 5.1.7 on El Capitan: create a user with a custom home folder location

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Gavin Lawrie,Helpful

    Gavin Lawrie Gavin Lawrie Aug 10, 2016 11:33 AM in response to frozeefrank
    Level 2 (413 points)
    Mac App Store
    Aug 10, 2016 11:33 AM in response to frozeefrank

    I may be mistaken, but it seems that Workgroup Manager version 10.8 works under El Capitan: I can certainly start the app and interrogate users / groups therein.  I guess perhaps it is on the machine as a remnant of it being upgraded periodically since Lion days... but it also suggests that if you can find a copy you might be able to run it on your machine.

     

    HTH

  • by frozeefrank,

    frozeefrank frozeefrank Aug 10, 2016 11:38 AM in response to Gavin Lawrie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Aug 10, 2016 11:38 AM in response to Gavin Lawrie

    I just spent quite a bit with another apple advisor regarding this issue and he confirmed that this is an expected behavior. He also confirmed that Workgroup manager is not compatible or even supported by apple. He said that apple does not plan to replace the features available in workgroup manager by another software or include them in the Server app, excluding features related to the profile manager service. I will try to install the version you mentioned in your post on a test computer but I don't like to have unsupported software of a computer that belongs to a company.

  • by Gavin Lawrie,

    Gavin Lawrie Gavin Lawrie Aug 10, 2016 1:25 PM in response to frozeefrank
    Level 2 (413 points)
    Mac App Store
    Aug 10, 2016 1:25 PM in response to frozeefrank

    hi. I was simply letting you know that the version mentioned seems to work. Of course you have to decide whether or not it is appropriate to use it on your system.

  • by Pagrash,

    Pagrash Pagrash Aug 10, 2016 3:47 PM in response to frozeefrank
    Level 1 (79 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Aug 10, 2016 3:47 PM in response to frozeefrank

    Many of Workgroup Managers features are hidden in the Profile Manager settings tab.

    I also have been wrestling with the transition.

     

    Not sure if this works but Profile Manage  has a setting under

    Groups/(Group Name)/settings for (Group Name)/OSX/Login items/Authenticated network Mounts,

    -Add network home share point.

     

    Hope this helps

  • by frozeefrank,

    frozeefrank frozeefrank Aug 11, 2016 5:30 AM in response to Gavin Lawrie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Aug 11, 2016 5:30 AM in response to Gavin Lawrie

    after reading that last answer, it seemed a bit direct. Sorry for that. I'll make sure to try it out. Thank you again for your response.

  • by frozeefrank,

    frozeefrank frozeefrank Aug 11, 2016 5:31 AM in response to Pagrash
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Aug 11, 2016 5:31 AM in response to Pagrash

    I'll take a look at it. I did not dig into profile manager yet. Thank you!

  • by cdhw,

    cdhw cdhw Aug 11, 2016 10:33 AM in response to frozeefrank
    Level 4 (2,623 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Aug 11, 2016 10:33 AM in response to frozeefrank

    For a small number of users you can just right-click (i.e hold down ctrl while clicking) the user in the Users panel and select 'Advanced Options...' from the contextual menu.

     

    For a larger number you can wrap ldapmodify or ldapadd in a script.

     

    C.