[iPad] IPad Deployment - Apple ID Question?

[EN4CER]

Hi All,

We are soon to get 60 IPads in our school for the first time. This is very new to us.

I've read about VPP, wanted to know the best way to configure the pads and set up the Apple IDs?

Any other poniters greatly appreciated.

EN4

[garethm]

Hi,

Best thing to do is get a mac, and install Apple Configurator.

You don't need an Apple ID to run an iPad - however it's also a question of how they're going to be used?

Are they going to be issued to teachers, which means they have to have full access to everything? Or are they for kids, and need to be locked down tighter than Fort Knox?

[EN4CER]

Hi,

Don't have a mac!

The ipads will be for the students, so will need locking down.

Anymore help appreciated?

Hi,

Best thing to do is get a mac, and install Apple Configurator.

You don't need an Apple ID to run an iPad - however it's also a question of how they're going to be used?

Are they going to be issued to teachers, which means they have to have full access to everything? Or are they for kids, and need to be locked down tighter than Fort Knox?

[garethm]

Hmm... hard without a mac to be honest!

If the school can squeeze a mac mini into the budget somewhere, it's going to make management of the iPads so much easier! I used to manage 60+ of the things on my own at a secondary school using the free Apple Configurator software.
This allows you to create a profile which locks it down really well!

Try the Meraki Systems Manager - it's free, and web-based - however it's also in beta!

With regards to the Apple VPP - sign up, you'll create 2 "special" Apple IDs, which can't be used to redeem codes. With the Meraki manager - they've produced a video on how to do it How to deploy apps to iOS devices with Meraki Systems Manager - YouTube

Certainly with the Apple Configurator I can help - unfortunately I've not had as much experience as I'd like with the Meraki Systems Manager! But I'll help you as much as I can!

[EN4CER]

Thanks for your help. So will Apple Configurator not work on Windows then?

[garethm]

Unfortunately Apple haven't made a version for Windows

[CyberNerd]

We bought an ipod mini server - it's a fraction of the cost of 60 ipads

[CyberNerd]

We bought an ipod mini server

ipod mini sounded wrong when I was typing it and spent my whole journey to school trying to remember that it was an imac mini!

[Aethon]

I'd find out how these are going to be used, if they are a class-set then something like a Mac mini is pretty essential. You can use this for pushing out apps and managing the iPads and it'll be far easier going forward than using Meraki - getting something like a Leba NoteSync multi-charger is vital though as you can use this to configure up to 15 iPads at once.

If these are going to be given out to people, in a 1:1 arrangement, then I'd look at what you want to be able to configure with them. You can create profiles using a Mac mini or even using the iPhone configuration utility (free download and works on windows) or by using something like Meraki.

To be honest, you'll probably want to have Meraki and a Mac mini once you start getting more of these things but I'd start having a play with Meraki and the iPhone utility as it will give you a feel for what can be done and they are both free tools.

[EN4CER]

Hi, yes these ipad minis are for class use. So would i need a mac mini to run the Apple Configurator and a sync charging trolley?

I don't normally do Apple, so is it easy to set up and run under a Windows 2k3 domain or would I not be joining the mac mini to the domain and just be using the wireless connection?

Any step by step procedures for getting this set up would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

EN4

I'd find out how these are going to be used, if they are a class-set then something like a Mac mini is pretty essential. You can use this for pushing out apps and managing the iPads and it'll be far easier going forward than using Meraki - getting something like a Leba NoteSync multi-charger is vital though as you can use this to configure up to 15 iPads at once.

If these are going to be given out to people, in a 1:1 arrangement, then I'd look at what you want to be able to configure with them. You can create profiles using a Mac mini or even using the iPhone configuration utility (free download and works on windows) or by using something like Meraki.

To be honest, you'll probably want to have Meraki and a Mac mini once you start getting more of these things but I'd start having a play with Meraki and the iPhone utility as it will give you a feel for what can be done and they are both free tools.

[EN4CER]

Forgot also to ask, does the Mac Mini need to be running the Server OS x?

Cheers

EN4

[garethm]

Hey EN4,

Something like a NoteSync will be invaluable - Griffin also do a similar unit which I'd highly recommend, which also doubles as a secure store for them too. MultiDock | Griffin Technology

The Mac Mini just needs standard OS X, doesn't need server software at all

Re: domain use - you don't need to connect it to the domain really, it's easy enough to do if you want to though. But all you'll need to do really is to use the web to grab apps, so there's not a lot of need!

Have a look at this as a guide - http://images.apple.com/au/iphone/bu...ator_Mar12.pdf
I may have a more detailed one somewhere that I wrote for a customer if that's not what you need!

Just shout if I can help

[CyberNerd]

I don't think the server osx is much more expensive, if at all.

[jmak]

I don't think the server osx is much more expensive, if at all.

It's about £35 direct from Apple. No CALS to worry about and nothing else to buy. The Mac Mini with server OSX is probably the best value product Apple make. You might even consider it good value compared to products without the shiny stickers and nicely rounded corners

[CyberNerd]

It's about £35 direct from Apple. No CALS to worry about and nothing else to buy. The Mac Mini with server OSX is probably the best value product Apple make. You might even consider it good value compared to products without the shiny stickers and nicely rounded corners

When it comes with SAMBA 4 I'll agree with you wholeheatedly