TheGirlInIT Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Hi Guys! Ive been given the task of making 60 ipads operable within our Academy and feeder schools based on the users being the pupils and for obvious reasons NOT having access to the apple ID password that we will be using. I have looked at many different ways of setting up the ipads and I think I may have found an easy solution using the Meraki web based MDM. This seems to work fine when not used with the Apple Configurator (the ipads seem to keep forgetting the WiFi after some time when prepared with AC? But thats a whole different thing!) The issue I am faced with at the moment, is that after a period of time, the iPads want to have the Apple ID password typed in again. The idea of these iPads are that they able to install apps wirelessly from my station. Does anyone know a way around avoiding the password prompt? Ive looked on the Meraki site and i cant seem to find the option to turn this off? I understand this is potentially a security risk but its the only way i know of (in the short time ive had to research this) to be able to deploy the apps quickly without having them all bought back into my office everytime I am asked for a new app to be installed. I know this all sounds bitty but Im in a bit of a rush and would appreciate any advise or suggestions from those that have already done this sort of thing? Any questions to help just let me know. Thanks!
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) unfortunately not. This is a problem with Apples framework they need to verify the account holder as you are effectively downloading from the app store there is no work around for this! Welcome to the struggle that is Apple in Schools over time you will find a lot more problems with them We have 100 iPads here so if you need any help I'll o my best to answer your questions! Edited January 22, 2014 by abillybob
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Ahh iPads, we are about to order 6 of the blighters onto a Trolley, we currently have one per class ( about 20), aqnd we are looking to use Meraki too (it's trialled on a few), but as Alex said, it's an issue with Apple themselves rather than meraki, and any MDM software will have the same issue. You were saying about the wifi/Apple configurator, does setting the wifi with meraki not work then???
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 How we do it is apply most of the free apps, supervise the ipads and a wifi profile via Apple Configurator. Then use Meraki to push out Paid apps and the odd free app staff want to certain tagged iPads. I found the wifi issue was the same for me because the ipad can't connect to meraki via the internet to retrieve lockdown and settings if you don't have a separate profile for just Wifi configuration. So bit of a mouthful you need to supervise all ipads and create a separate wifi Profile on Apple Configurator then download and install the meraki profile!
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Apple Configurator is the program you need a Mac OS for, right?
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Correct Apple's way of keeping you in their ecosystem!Apple Configurator is the program you need a Mac OS for, right?
Tricky_Dicky Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 As mentioned above, the way to do this is to use Apple VPP and then some sort of management program such as either Apples own server or Meraki and then it will allow you to silently push out Apps.
TomCollins Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Apple Configurator is the program you need a Mac OS for, right? That's the one!
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 As mentioned above, the way to do this is to use Apple VPP and then some sort of management program such as either Apples own server or Meraki and then it will allow you to silently push out Apps. Wait, so if you have Apple VPP, and you set it up via Meraki, you won't need the password every 15 minutes? (sorry noob here) need to get on some form of training!
TheGirlInIT Posted January 22, 2014 Author Posted January 22, 2014 Wow! I didn't expect so many replies so quickly! Originally, I started to use the Apple Configurator alone, creating a profile that stored the Academy's WiFi info and proxy settings. This deployed fine onto the ipads however I couldn't find a way of deploying free apps using the configurator as freebies can only be deployed via MDM and not a redeemable code (when purchasing from VPP). To get around this i looked into the MDM solutions and found Meraki! I thought "this is great, I'm going to be able to get these ipads off my desk at last!" But no. It turned out that when i tried to install the Meraki profile (after preparing the ipads with our settings) they kept failing. Eventually i decided to leave the Apple Configurator all together because when it was installing okay, the iPads were forgetting the WiFi info, thus needing to constantly typing in the password again! Now I have only used the Meraki on a couple of ipads OOTB and the WiFi doesnt seem the be an issue (hoorah!) The issue now is all about the Apple ID prompt. Am i really going to have to have the ipads brought back into my office every term or time a teacher finds a new app that's resourceful?! I have questions regarding VPP too but Ill get to that once i know what my options are!! Thanks for all the responses guys - i dont feel so alone!
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Tricky_Dicky is wrong there sorry but Meraki can't push apps out "Silently" only Apples stuff can via caching on a server (which has it's problems) or via Apple Configurator
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) I found I had issues more when deploying the Meraki profile via Apple configurator. I set them up using Apple configurator first and install Wifi profile after that I then install Meraki management profiles manually by going to m.meraki.com I know it's a ballache but once setup it's done forever then if you do it this way you won't/shouldn't have any problems. My advice - chuck the iPads away if you can or stamp repeatedly on each one on purpose but "accidently" screaming I AM SPARTA! Otherwise you will have more problems to come across! Edit: Free apps can be deployed using Apple Configurator, download the app via iTunes, import it to Apple configurator and Sync Wow! I didn't expect so many replies so quickly! Originally, I started to use the Apple Configurator alone, creating a profile that stored the Academy's WiFi info and proxy settings. This deployed fine onto the ipads however I couldn't find a way of deploying free apps using the configurator as freebies can only be deployed via MDM and not a redeemable code (when purchasing from VPP). To get around this i looked into the MDM solutions and found Meraki! I thought "this is great, I'm going to be able to get these ipads off my desk at last!" But no. It turned out that when i tried to install the Meraki profile (after preparing the ipads with our settings) they kept failing. Eventually i decided to leave the Apple Configurator all together because when it was installing okay, the iPads were forgetting the WiFi info, thus needing to constantly typing in the password again! Now I have only used the Meraki on a couple of ipads OOTB and the WiFi doesnt seem the be an issue (hoorah!) The issue now is all about the Apple ID prompt. Am i really going to have to have the ipads brought back into my office every term or time a teacher finds a new app that's resourceful?! I have questions regarding VPP too but Ill get to that once i know what my options are!! Thanks for all the responses guys - i dont feel so alone! Edited January 22, 2014 by abillybob
Tricky_Dicky Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Tricky_Dicky is wrong there sorry but Meraki can't push apps out "Silently" only Apples stuff can via caching on a server (which has it's problems) or via Apple Configurator I don't think I am, but willing to stand corrected. you aren't pushing the App out to the device, but rather the user account on that device. Thus you need to make sure the option of installing apps automatically is turned on on the iPad itself.
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 I'm now more confused than when i started to read this thread!
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 So, would any of you suggest for me to use Meraki for now, then when we need more control, look towards adopting Apple Configurator? we currently dont have the money until April to Buy a Mac Mini or anything, the budget's being eaten by our pending iPad order.
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 If you're buying iPads really you should get a Mac with them! @Ticky_Dicky can you let me know how I enable this feature and I will test. If this is the case I will be overwhelmed with happiness So, would any of you suggest for me to use Meraki for now, then when we need more control, look towards adopting Apple Configurator? we currently dont have the money until April to Buy a Mac Mini or anything, the budget's being eaten by our pending iPad order.
GeekyPete Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 To me the only sensible way to push out apps is to Use a macOS device with Apple configurator on to download the apps and supervise the iPads. Use a Syncing charging trolley to charge and Sync them after each use or over night. You can get trolleys that take upto 32 iPads. This may be all you need. If you have 10 class sets then they would need to bring them in to get the new apps, or you could take your Macbook to their trolley to sync them. Alternatively each trolley could have a MacBook and the teachers could sync them themselves. This can all be done will VPP to purchase the apps and "gift" them.
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) As i said, no money yet haha. i fear i have hijacked this thread, but it's all kind of relevant. What have you guys got to run apple configurator, we're looking at buying the lowest spec Mac Mini, then buying Mac Os Server ( i understand you can get it for a tenner) also bare in mind we Don't currently have any Macs,and i am not familiar with them.... Edited January 22, 2014 by Tesla
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 I'm using MacBook Pro's we do have a Mac Server here but I wouldn't bother if you just have iPads and one mac to manage! The lowest spec mac mini will do fine for Apple configurator! Mac OSX is more simple than Windows in my opinion things are just in different places. Personally Apple kit is meant to be a personal device even networking a Mac causes problems as they're not as customisable as a Windows based computer! Stick with Windows have one mac mini to sync and you'll be fine! If you can afford it later on get an Apple Mac Air as it will annoy you having to fetch all the ipads it's handy to just take the mac to the trolley!As i said, no money yet haha. i fear i have hijacked this thread, but it's all kind of relevant. What have you guys got to run apple configurator, we're looking at buying the lowest spec Mac Mini, then buying Mac Os Server ( i understand you can get it for a tenner) also bare in mind we Don't currently have any Macs,and i am not familiar with them....
Tricky_Dicky Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 For instructions for Meraki try these: https://kb.meraki.com/knowledge_base/deploying-vpp-apps-to-ios-devices-using-apples-managed-distribution-model Like I said, you are deploying the Apps to the user account, not the device. In settings -> iTunes & App Store. Make sure automatic downloads is turned on for Apps and Updates.
Tesla Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 So do you need to link each iPad invidiually when you do updates? :S since you said about taking mac to the trolley
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) Tested doesn't work here still prompts for password! I've spoken to Meraki and they have said this is not the case I know this all Meraki does is send a request from it's servers with a download link to the app then the app starts downloading. It doesn't send them to your account only if it did do this the user would be forced to go into the app store look under purchased apps and click download. When you put something on Meraki such as an app Meraki then tells the iPad to download the app at that particular link from the app store! I know this for a fact as that is what Meraki said they do when I was setting up Smoothwall and this way it makes more sense then deploying it to your user account as you don't even have a place to input your user account information in Meraki so how would it know who you are! Though when the ipad has downloaded the app it puts it into your account as it can see you have downloaded it. Edited January 22, 2014 by abillybob
abillybob Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 No because you buy a sync trolley which allows you to connect multiple iPads to one USB port!So do you need to link each iPad invidiually when you do updates? :S since you said about taking mac to the trolley
Tricky_Dicky Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Fair enough, I stand corrected. However, there is no reason this shouldn't work. It isn't Meraki that needs to know which accounts it needs deploying to, it's apple. When you setup apple VPP it will send an email to all the users that you invite asking them to enroll themselves on to the account. This way Apple knows who is linked to which account. Once this is done all Meraki needs to do assign the licence to the group you set, so students for example, it would then talk back to Apple and say assign X app to Y account. With automatic application download enabled the app would then download in the same way that if you had an iPhone and iPad the app will download to both when purchasing on one or the other.
GeekyPete Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 As i said, no money yet haha. i fear i have hijacked this thread, but it's all kind of relevant. What have you guys got to run apple configurator, we're looking at buying the lowest spec Mac Mini, then buying Mac Os Server ( i understand you can get it for a tenner) also bare in mind we Don't currently have any Macs,and i am not familiar with them.... I understand. I have been in your position. The first Mac was bought to manage the iPads. There are plenty of walk throughs on setting it up and it's not that hard. Regarding the money, just tell the leadership how it is. They can use the iPads as they are for the time being, but whoever bought them (I hope it's not you) didn't do their homework. To get them working how they want needs a Mac. Simple. Buy me the tools to do the job (Mac and a Sync trolley) and you'll get it working how you want. Until then you'll have to put up with it. The trolleys come in two flavours remember, some just charge and some charge and sync. Make sure you get the right one.
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