Troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.3.x (Server): Losing admin rights on IP change

Glenn Fajardo reports that Mac OS X 10.3.x Server will disable all administrator rights to the main administrator account if the IP address of the server is changed via the "Network" pane of System Preferences. The workaround is to use the Terminal's "changeip" command.

Glenn writes "I just ran into a big 'gotcha' in Panther server. According to Apple tech support, you will lose admin rights to the main administrator account if you change the IP address via the Network Preferences Panel. The only solution should this happen is a reformat and reinstall of the OS.

"You must use the command 'changeip' in the terminal window to avoid the loss of administrator rights in OS X Server 10.3. Fortunately this occurred on a test bed machine."

Changing the IP address using the "changeip" command uses the form:

• changeip [(directory|-)] old-ip new-ip [old-hostname new-hostname]

All of the names are self-explanatory except for directory; if the server is an Open Directory master or replica, or is connected to a directory system, you must include the path to the directory domain.

You can also learn more about the "changeip" command by typing "man changeip" in the Terminal.

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