MacOS – Cannot create home folders on the server for network accounts

findermacosNetworkpermissionserver.app

I have a problem with creating home folders on the server for network accounts. The goal is to share the same files on multiple devices. A quick overview of what I do:

  1. I go to the Server.app.
  2. I create a folder (in my case on /Volumes/Macintosh HD/Network Users).
  3. I enable the File Sharing service.
  4. I add the /Volumes/Macintosh HD/Network Users as a shared folder.
  5. Once added, I edit it and make sure it is able to be used for home folders (AFP).
  6. I create a new network account and set his/her home folder location to 'Network Users'.

When I try to log in on a device (in my case a MacBook Pro), it gives me the following error saying I can't login:

You are unable to login to the user account "williamdedwards" at this time.
Logging in to the account failed because an error occurred.

I am 100% sure that this is related to the permissions. When I add my user account manually and give it Read/Write access to the 'Network Users' folder, it used to work (not anymore, I still get the same error now). When I set the home folder to 'Local', I can login and everything is fine.

I also came to this conclusion with Apple Support.

What am I doing wrong here?

Best Answer

It might be something with the authentication process of the clients. Open Directory needs to be running on the server (try to delete and rebuild it) and this server must be assigned as a directory server in the the clients account preferences. You might be able to check permissions by accessing the a home folder via CMD-K and the AFP:// URL from the Finder of any client. If you get read/write access then permissions should be okay.

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