Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server,  Mac Security,  Mass Deployment,  Xsan

Enabling Spotlight For Network Volumes

Spotlight doesn’t automatically index network volumes. To configure spotlight to index network volumes, use the mdutil command followed by an arbitrary path, with the -i option and then the on parameter. For example, for a volume called Galvatron, you would enable indexing using the following command:

mdutil /Volumes/Galvatron -i on

To monitor the status of the indexing process:

mdutil /Volumes/Galvatron -s

If this happens to cause any problems, use the off parameter instead, along with the same command to disable indexing of that volume.

mdutil /Volumes/Galvatron -i off

You can send the mdutil commands through Apple Remote Desktop. For example, I’ve needed to toggle indexing on and then off, for which I would do something as follows via ARD:

mdutil /Volumes/Galvatron -i off; mdutil /Volumes/Galvatron -i on