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Creating Users In Yosemite Server

There are three ways to create users in Yosemite Server (the Server app running on Yosemite if you’re so bored you feel the need to try and correct me). The first is using the Server app, the second is using the Users & Groups System Preference pane and the third is using the command line. In this article we will look at creating users in the Server app.

To do so, open the Server app and connect to your server. Then click on the Users entry in the ACCOUNTS list. The list of users is displayed, based on the directory domain(s) being browsed. A directory domain is a repository of account data, which can include local users, local network users and users in a shared directory service such as Open Directory and Active Directory.

Users1

The drop-down list allows you to see objects that are stored locally as well as on a shared directory server. Click on the plus sign to create a new account in the chosen Directory Domain.

Users2

When prompted, provide the following information about the new user:

  • Full Name: Usually the first and last name of the user.
  • Account Name: A shorter representation of that name with no spaces or special characters.
  • Email addresses: The email address to use if the account is going over quotas, has calendar invitations sent, or used for email hosted on the server, etc.
  • Password: The password the user will use to access services on the server.
  • Verify: The password a second time to make sure there are no spelling errors.
  • Allow user to administer this server: Optional field that grants the user administrative access to the server.
  • Home Folder: Optional field that by default creates local home directories for users that use the account but that also allows you to select a directory shared using the File Sharing service as a location for home folders. Each user in OS X has a home folder, this option defines whether that folder will reside on their computer or on a central server.
  • Keywords: Tags to make it easier to find users (a new feature for the Server app in Yosemite Server, but an old feature in the old Workgroup Manager).
  • Disk Quota: Define the amount of space an account can take up on servers.
  • Notes: Any information you’d like to enter to remember things about the user.

Note: Optionally, you can also drag an image onto the image shown in the New User screen if you’d like the user to have an avatar as done in the above screenshot.

Once the account details are as you would like, click on the Done button. The account will then be displayed in the list of available accounts. If the server has not been made an Open Directory server then you can only create local users through the Server app.

Once the account is created, right-click click on the user to see the option to edit the account you just created, edit their access to services hosted on the server, configure email information and change their password.

Users3

Click Edit User. Here, you have two new features. You can add the user to groups and use the checkbox for “log in” to disable the account.

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Click Cancel and then using the cog wheel menu while the user is highlighted, note that you can, click on Edit Access to Services. Here, uncheck each service that the user should not have access to. If the service isn’t running then it’s not a big deal. You can highlight multiple accounts concurrently and then use this option to disable services for users en masse. Here, you can also edit your user templates (which are settings inherited by new users who you select that template for) as well as edit advanced options, such as changing the UID, default group, short name, aliases, default shell and home directory path. As the screen indicates, only change this stuff if you know exactly what you’re doing.

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