Providing a Networked Home Directory

A desktop network works most effectively when users have a single home directory that is shared among all client and server systems on the network.

A networked home directory enables users to use different systems in the network without losing personal customizations and configurations. This is because personal customizations and the information required to restore the previous session are saved in subdirectories of the home directory.

A common home directory is also required by:

• The default X authorization mechanism (see Configuring X Authorization).

• The desktop subprocess control daemon. This daemon is involved in launching remote applications and must be able to write to the user's home directory.