Workgroup Manager doesn't create home directories for OD accounts

Question

I'm having an issue where home directories aren't created for OD accounts. My setup is as follows, the home directories are stored on the OD Master (the only Apple/OD/AD server on the network), and the home directory paths are filled as afp://192.168.1.254/Customers, fakeuser, /Users/Customers/fakeuser
This same pathing scheme works fine for local accounts, however for OD, clicking Create Home Directory and saving the account does nothing (no errors, nor folders created). If I ftp into said account, I wind up being directed to /Users (definitely not the expected behaviour)
I am deploying a web based upload system that I want to authenticate against OD users so as to share home folders and permissions with the ftp server, once I have this figured out I will be migrating a bunch of accounts to OD from local.

Answer 1

In addition to potential DNS issues, it sounds like you may be using the wrong procedure to define the users' home directories. You should never have to specify the paths manually; instead, define the share point ("Customers" in your case) to be automounted, and then it should automatically show up in the list of available home folder locations, with all the necessary paths predefined. Here's the full procedure:
1. Run Server Admin, and select: the server name in the sidebar -> File Sharing in the toolbar -> Volumes & Browse under that -> navigate to the /Customers folder in the column view.
2. Make sure the folder is being shared (with it selected, you should see an "Unshare" button near the top right of the window); if not share it with the Share Button (then Save the change).
3. Select the Share Point tab under the file browser (NOT the one above it), and select the Enable Automount checkbox. A dialog will open asking for the automount details; make sure the Directory is set to /LADPv3/127.0.0.1, Protocol to AFP, and Use for is User home folders and group folders. OK the dialog, and be sure to click Save to make the change take effect.
4. Run Workgroup Manager, and select Accounts in the toolbar -> Users (single person icon) tab under that -> some user account(s) you want to configure under that -> Home tab on the right.
5. Select (None) from the location list and click Save (this wipes out any current setting, so we can rebuild it correctly).
6. The Customers share point should be in the list of available locations (due to being configured for automount); select it, then click Create Home Now, and finally Save.