Synchronize the user folder between Macs via FileVault

I recently bought a MacBook, and have run into the same issue that everyone who owns a desktop and a laptop has: how do you keep the machines in sync? I found out that it's pretty easy, thanks to FileVault. When you enable FileVault, the system creates an encrypted disk image of your user folder, which is automatically mounts when you log in. You can copy this disk image from machine to machine, which transfers your entire user folder in one blow. There are some setup gotchas, though: Your user name and UID has to be the same on both computers. My UID on my iMac is 503 (lots of users on the box), while my MacBook UID is 501. I created a two fake users on the MacBook to bump the UID number up to a matching value (they start at 501, and each user created increments the next uid). You have to turn FileVault on for the user on both machines. FileVault takes a bit of time to do its stuff. Note that you should move anything you don't want to transfer out of you...
Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:30:04 +0200

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