EN4CER Posted February 18, 2013 Posted February 18, 2013 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 Posted February 18, 2013 Posted February 18, 2013 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 Posted February 18, 2013 Author Posted February 18, 2013 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 Posted February 18, 2013 Posted February 18, 2013 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! 1
EN4CER Posted February 18, 2013 Author Posted February 18, 2013 Thanks for your help. So will Apple Configurator not work on Windows then?
garethm Posted February 18, 2013 Posted February 18, 2013 Unfortunately Apple haven't made a version for Windows
CyberNerd Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 We bought an ipod mini server - it's a fraction of the cost of 60 ipads
CyberNerd Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 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! 1
Aethon Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 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. 1
EN4CER Posted February 19, 2013 Author Posted February 19, 2013 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 Posted February 19, 2013 Author Posted February 19, 2013 Forgot also to ask, does the Mac Mini need to be running the Server OS x? Cheers EN4
garethm Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 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/business/docs/iOS_Apple_Configurator_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 1
CyberNerd Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 I don't think the server osx is much more expensive, if at all.
jmak Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 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 1
CyberNerd Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 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 1
EN4CER Posted February 20, 2013 Author Posted February 20, 2013 Thanks to everyone for their enlightenment. Especially to garethm.. I found the pdf very informative and would love to read your more detailed guide? This may sound stupid, but does the Mac Mini plug into the charging trolley to centrally manage the pads or is it just done over the same wifi network? Will i need a screen, kb and mouse or just remote onto it? Is there any real advantage with a mac mini with server os x as opposed to a non server operating system? Couldn't I just use a mac laptop to do the same job.? Thanks for all your help and patients with me.. Me is learning fast! :-) EN4
Aethon Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 The Mac mini does plug into the charger (depending on the charger, of course) and either using a remote or a KVM would work. Personally, I'd go with the server os as it isn't a huge amount more expensive and will let you get familiar with that side of things - always useful particularly if you may be doing more with macs down the line. 1
EN4CER Posted February 20, 2013 Author Posted February 20, 2013 Thanks. Is that using some sort of a remote desktop app from a Windows pc?. Can I use any type of screen, kb and mouse for the initial setup? Think the school want to go with iPad mini's if this makes any difference to any of the above. Cheers EN4
Aethon Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 I'd just attach an old keyboard and mouse (USB) to the Mac mini and use any old monitor - the Mac mini will need an HDMI connection but we use an HDMI to VGA converter and attach it to an old monitor. 1
EN4CER Posted February 20, 2013 Author Posted February 20, 2013 Thanks to everyone for their enlightenment. Especially to garethm.. I found the pdf very informative and would love to read your more detailed guide? This may sound stupid, but does the Mac Mini plug into the charging trolley to centrally manage the pads or is it just done over the same wifi network? Will i need a screen, kb and mouse or just remote onto it? Is there any real advantage with a mac mini with server os x as opposed to a non server operating system? Couldn't I just use a mac laptop to do the same job.? Thanks for all your help and patients with me.. Me is learning fast! :-) EN4 If anyone can have a stab at the remaining points, I'd really appreciate it. I just ran Apple Configuator on a friend's make, setting up a dummy profile etc. Got a bit more of a feel for it now and quite impressed. Still not too clear on the supervise and assign sections. Does anyone know of a good YouTube video or online guide to show how this works? Cheers again EN4
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