OS X Lion not creating a local home folder for network users
Update: 8/19/11
Apple released 10.7.1 yesterday, so I’m curious to see if it resolves these issues with network accounts. I’ll have a chance to test it next week and will update this with what I find. If you’re ready this and already tried it please leave a comment as to whether or not it works for you
Original Post
I use local home folders for the Mac users I manage, but the Macs are bound to Active Directory for the user accounts. In OS X 10.7 Lion this seems to be far from complete. First I couldn’t get logged in with a network account, which required a workaround. Then after getting in, another error said the “The home folder for user xxxxxx isn’t located in the usual place or cannot be accessed”. This has worked fine in 10.4-10.6 but is now broken in 10.7. The problem appears to be related to OS X Lion having bugs with creating mobile accounts. By unchecking “Create mobile account”, the home folder issue disappears. Supposedly I see a lot of talk of a 10.7.2 update fixing this problem, but since that update is in beta and not available to the general public that doesn’t do much good. If you don’t know where to go to uncheck the mobile account box, here’s a walkthrough:
1. Open System Preferences
2. Go to User & Groups
3. Click Login Options in the lower left. You may have to authenticate first by clicking the lock icon in the lower left.
4. Under Network Account Server, click Edit
5. Select your domain, then click Open Directory Utility
6. Select Active Directory, then click the pencil to edit
7. Click to Show Advanced Options
8. Under User Experience you will see “Create mobile account at login”. Uncheck this box
9. Click OK
10. Close your windows
11. Reboot and log in like normal
via Ramblings o’ Techie: OS X Lion not creating a local home folder for network users.
