Mac OS X Server: Server Side File Tracking for Mobile Home Sync requires SSH access

Products Affected

Mac OS X Server 10.5, Mac OS X Server 10.6

Symptoms

Mobile users need SSH access to make use of the Server Side File Tracking for Mobile Home Sync feature in Server Admin, in Mac OS X Server v10.5 and 10.6.

Resolution

Check the following to ensure that mobile users have SSH access to the server:
  • Firewall: TCP port 2336 must be open between the client and the server. In Server Admin, this port is listed as Mobile Account Sync.

    Note: The FileSync client uses SSH to connect to the server over port 2336 rather than the default SSH port (22). Remote Login (SSH) does not need to be enabled in Server Admin to use the Server Side File Tracking for Mobile Home Sync feature.
     
  • Service ACLs: If you have configured service access controls (ACLs) in Server Admin, make sure mobile users are allowed SSH access.

Additional Information

When mobile accounts sync, the user's computer scans every folder in the local Home folder and compares them with all folders in the network Home folder.
 
When the Server Side File Tracking for Mobile Home Sync option is enabled, a server daemon updates the database of changed files. The user's computer scans only the folders in the local Home folder that have been modified since the last time the database was updated.
 
See pages 144 and 145 of the Mac OS X Server v10.5 User Management Guide, or page 157 of the Mac OS X Server v10.6 User Management Guide, as well.
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