Device Manager fails to start on a macOS Server 5.2 Replica

ZippyDan

Platinum Member
Sep 28, 2001
2,141
1
81
I have setup a working Open Directory Master on on Mac-Server-1 running macOS Sierra and macOS Server 5.2 (latest as of today). I have also successfully started the Device Manager and enrolled a client computer with no problem.

I have now also setup a working Open Directory Replica on Mac-Server-2 running MacOS Sierra and macOS Server 5.2. However, when I try to activate the Device Manager on the Replica, it stays Disabled.

Is this by design that Device Manager can only be active on the Master? Or is this a bug?

Steps:
  1. In macOS Server -> Profile Manger -> Device Manager, status is `Disabled`
  2. In macOS Server -> Profile Manger -> Device Manager, I click `Setup...` button
  3. New window appears telling me I can manage devices. I click `Next`
  4. The window now changes and asks me for a Name, E-mail, Telephone, and Address (presumably to generate a certificate?)
  5. I enter the info, and click `Next`
  6. The next window appears, telling me to click `Finish`. I do.
  7. The window disappears, returning me to the macOS Server -> Profile Manger window, where the status of Device Manager still shows as `Disabled`
Ideas?

Note1 : I tried uninstalling Server.app and deleting /Library/Server/* and reinstalling the Replica from scratch. Same behavior.

Note2 : I tried reinstalling the entire server from scratch. Same behavior.
 

ZippyDan

Platinum Member
Sep 28, 2001
2,141
1
81
After further research, apparently Profile Manager (or more specifically Device Manager) can only run on the Master, which is disappointing as it means macOS Server is not yet a good solution for situations that require redundancy or are multi-site setups.

I'm also disappointed that the macOS Server does not fail gracefully, and provide an informative error message that Device Manager cannot be run on a replica, instead of just failing to activate without any kind of message or explanation.