OS X Mountain Lion: Create and configure mobile accounts
If you use a portable computer and can join it to a network account server that lets you have a mobile user account, you get the following benefits:
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A mobile account provides a home folder on both your computer and a network account server. The two home folders are automatically synchronized whenever you log in when you’re connected to the server’s network.
The term “portable home directory” refers to the synchronized home folders.
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The appearance of the desktop and other resources on a portable computer is the same, whether or not you’re connected to the network.
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You use the same user network name and password when you log in, whether or not you’re connected to the network.
Before you can set up a mobile account, you must join your computer to a network account server that supports mobile accounts.
Create a mobile account
- Make sure your network account server administrator has given you permission to create a mobile account.
- Log in to your computer using your network user account.
If you can’t log in as a network user, your Mac might not be set up to allow network users to log in. For more information, see this help topic:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and then click Users & Groups.
- Click the lock icon to unlock it, and then type an administrator name and password.
- Click the Create button next to “Mobile account,” and then specify which folders to synchronize and when.
Change settings for syncing folders
- Log in to your computer using your network user account.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and then click Users & Groups.
- Click the lock icon to unlock it, and then type an administrator name and password.
- Click the Settings button next to “Mobile account.”
If the Settings button isn’t available, the network account server doesn’t allow changing mobile account settings. See the network account server administrator for assistance.