MCXredirector folder redirection via JSS MCX on a 10.8 client

[alan_trewartha]

AFAICT many MCX settings are applying (eg com.apple.loginwindow and com.apple.desktop) but when I try com.apple.mcxredirector using this manifest…

https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/viewProductFile.html?id=135&fid=425

as my base, it's just not working. Even a simple "deleteAndCreateSymLink" redirecting the ~/Library/Caches - nothing happens, the original folder remains in play.

Everything *looks* right, in that in the "Managed Client" tab of the System Information app on 10.8 the listing under "com.apple.MCXRedirector" appears (as below) the same as in my 10.6 System Profiler where the MCX is managed by OD.

My next step is to check that JSS MCX is working on 10.6 taken out of OD management. And I know someone is going to point me in the direction of how to do this with profiles! Please do. Any help or pointers gratefully received.

Cheers

Alan

LoginRedirection-raw: Value: ( { action = deleteAndCreateSymLink; destPath = "/tmp/%@/Library/Caches"; path = "~/Library/Caches"; } ) State: always Source: bssaaa (User)

[SamF]

We've seen this issue before on 10.8 and came up with a solution using configuration profiles. The first step is to create a plist with the desired redirects, which it sounds like you already have from MCX. Next run the following command: /usr/bin/plutil -convert xml1 /path/to/file.plist

After the plist has been converted we can create a new OS X configuration profile for computer level and add a custom payload. Upload the plist that we converted above, add in the domain (com.apple.MCXRedirector) and scope the profile to the desired clients.

[alan_trewartha]

(Thanks by the way!)

I think I need a bit of a pointer to a basic walkthrough on using profiles then.

Profiles will not be installed until certificate-based communication and push notifications for Mac OS X 10.7 clients are enabled in the Computer Management Framework settings

I've ticked cert-based comms which does appear in CompManageFramew settings, but push notifications is under "Global Management Framework…". I thought this was for mobile devices out of the regular network and would need some port fiddling on our network to take effect?

[SamF]

Alan- A full list of the requirements for OS X configuration profiles can be found starting on page 324 of the Admin's Guide available here:

http://www.jamfsoftware.com/libraries/pdf/products/documentation/Casper_Suite_8.6_Documentation.pdf

If you have further questions I suggest contacting your Account Manager at JAMF for further assistance.

[alan_trewartha]

Thank you - that's all I need to get started. Cheers, you've been very helpful :-)

[plawrence]

I am having trouble getting folder cache redirection to work using configuration profiles. I created a .plist with the required keys, converted it to xml1 then uploaded it as a custom setting in a Computer Configuration Profile:

http://imgur.com/Tn46fYR

After scoping it to a 10.9 client, I login as a network user but the ~/Library/Caches folder is still there and not a symlink. Has anyone managed to get this working on 10.9 clients?

[plawrence]

I managed to get this working. Turns out my Mavericks server is having issues with SMB home directories not disconnecting when the users logout so logging back in would connect me to a broken home folder.

Switching to AFP network home directories has made the cache redirection work without changing any settings in the configuration profiles

[rcorbin]

In the past we did this via MCX. I've tried a few times to get this working via a config profile, but I have never been sucessful. The plist files I've uploaded to Casper in the past have always come up with some long and convoluted content that doesn't work. @plawrence is there any chance you might be able to share the plist file ?

[plawrence]

@rcorbin

Not a problem, here is the plist I have been using: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByUZMS3N_jFVZzZIYWZjSi1lWGM/view

Upload that into a Custom Setting payload on a Configuration Profile with the Preference Domain of '
com.apple.MCXRedirector' and hopefully it works for you too!