I found that blog post yesterday and put it to use trying to work out some postgresql issues. You can simply type 'dscl' without localhost to get things working. At least that worked for me.

[ Reply to This | # ]

You can start the command as "dscl ." (with a single dot) to connect to the relative (local) domain directly.

"sudo su -" is redundant, just use "sudo -s". But you don't even need to authenticate before starting dscl(1) in interactive mode: Just use the "auth" command once you're inside it.

In summary, non-interactively (from the command line):

sudo dscl . -change /Users/<username> NFSHomeDirectory <old_path> <new_path>

Note: None of this is guaranteed. My sole experience messing with it has been (as a previous user has noted) in trying to create a system account for PostgreSQL.

[ Reply to This | # ]

How would I go about moving the entire /Users folder to another volume? Please advise.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Since Leopard removes the NetInfo Manager utility, you can no longer use it to change your UID for the user account. Tiger also had command line utilities to modify the NetInfo database, but those have been removed as well.

In Leopard, you can use System Preferences or the dscl command line utility to modify the local user database.

To use dscl:

dscl . -read /Users/USERSHORTNAME

This will print out all the values for your user. Look for the UniqueID key and its value - this is what we are going to change.

To change the UID:
dscl . -change /Users/USERSHORTNAME UniqueID OLDUID NEWUID

Leopard's System Preferences also has a much easier to do this. Open the Accounts System Preferences and click the lock and authenticate. Then, for the user you want to change, RIGHT-click on the "Admin" or "User" text below the user's name. A contextual menu "Advanced Options" should appear - click on that. A sheet will appear with information about your user. You can change the UID from this pane. You can also change your shell, group ID and other user information from here.

Once you have done this, your files will still be associated with the old UID.

Run:
sudo find -x / -user OLDUID -exec chown NEWUID {} ;

to get your files back.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Does 10.5.5 break this hint? i've been using this hint since Leopard came out without problems. after installing the 10.5.5 patch though my moved home directory was not used. instead the default of /Users was used. i've tried to reset the moved home directory in dscl as described above but now get an error that the dsAttrTypeNative cannot be found. a cat of my user info does not show the information although the NFShomedirectory is set to the proper directory.

i've googled the problem but have found nothing apropos. i've checked the apple support site and found nothing there.

i did check the dscl and the DirectoryServiceAtrributes man pages. i did not see the attribute listed or mentioned. i did see dsAttrTypeStandard:HomeDirectory and tried it but again the attribute not found error.

help please. i've been unable to get to my home account normally for the last day.

thanks



[ Reply to This | # ]

Hi There,

I am on 10.5.5 and my moved home dir works just fine. Only I did not do it over the terminal command line.

Just go to System Preferences and select accounts. Now click to the "lock" and enter your password.

Now right mouse click the admin account and chose "Advanced" in there you may point to any directory you like

IHTH

[ Reply to This | # ]