Apple IDs for MDM- surely there must be an easier way?!

[sjb]

My school has a total of 24 apple devices. We hwve recently moved from managing them with Apple Configurator (which led to a full system restore on at least three or four devices every time I tried to add an app) to Lightspeed MDM which now comes included with our Schools Broadband account.

 

All was good until I realised that each device is required to have its own apple id to work with the Lightspeed system. I spent a tedious morning setting up 24 apple ids (somehow managing not to get blocked by apple), but have now got to the point of loading them onto the devices (another tedious job) and hit a problem - apple requires each ID to be activated in itunes, which involves entering credit card information.

 

I spent an hour on the phone to apple support to try to find a way round this, without success - their helpful suggestion was to set up purchase orders so that I could buy an app on each device, even though I explained that we use the volume licensing service for all our apps.

 

I admitted defeat and started activating them using our school credit card, removing it after activation. However, after three successful activations I have now been blocked by apple!

 

Surely there must be a better way to do this - if anyone knows one please let me know as it is driving me mad! How on earth do people manage with hundreds of devices?!

 

Thanks,

 

Sue

[vyperz]

i had this too. You have to enter the c/card details , then go back in and amend the payment details to "None" which removes the c/c details. However if you create the apple id in itunes , by selecting a free app then choosing create apple-id , it allows you to create it with no payment details. A bit late for you i know but worth remembering. I just had to create 30 for use with apple configurator! it's fun and apple blocked it every 5 or 6 i created so took me about 10 days!

[Scifigirl]

We have multiple ipads on different accounts, i.e. yr 7 on one, year 8 on another and so on, and we have lightspeed mdm...... never had any issues... apart from little niggles due to set up of groups in MDM

[Joanne]

I use Meraki MDM... it's free... but I just use one itunes account and my VPP account is linked to the meraki. I don 't think there is ever an easy way with apple...

 

Switch to Meraki if you want it up and running today

[sjb]

Creating the apple ids wasn't a problem - it's when I try to set the id up on the ipad that i am asked for credit card details. If I cancel, it cancels the whole setup.

 

My ipads currently don't have any icloud/itunes ids on them, and I am finding that Lightspeed doesn't sync new apps to them as a result, so I do need to find a way round it. Just spent another hour on the phone to apple - supposedly the 'education' department, but again the solution was buy 20 itunes vouchers! No one at apple seems to have hear about the volume licensing programme.

[steewy]

We have about 40 Teacher's iPads and 20 Students iPads.

 

Teachers:

I used Apple configurator to push IOS and the IOS settings (wifi, restrictions, certificates etc etc).

Once the iPads run IOS I gave it to the teachers and they had to create an apple ID. Once they have an apple ID, I have attached it to meraki so I can send free and paid apps to them automatically (VPP tab in Meraki)

When buying apps on the VPP store, make sure you get manageable codes.

 

Students:

 

I used Apple configurator to push IOS and the IOS settings (wifi, restrictions, certificates etc etc).

Once the iPads are all setup I then push all the apps via apple configurator using the iPad trolley. The students iPad do not need any apple ID as I manage the apps for the students.

To push apps you just need to get them from iTunes them add them to apple configurator. For paid apps your need to buy redeemable codes from the VPP store, redeem one code in iTunes and them add the excel file to apple configurator.

 

It works really well for me so far even if it took me quite a while before I could make it work properly.

[sjb]

The second scenario was what I used to do (all of our ipads are for pupil use). However, I found that every time confiurator tried to push out an ios update, at least three or four of the devices crash and have to be wiped and restored. We have also had issues with it being blocked by our filtering and just hangng in the middle of installs because it couldn't verify codes. I was hoping that Lightspeed would make life easier.

[steewy]

The second scenario was what I used to do (all of our ipads are for pupil use). However, I found that every time confiurator tried to push out an ios update, at least three or four of the devices crash and have to be wiped and restored. We have also had issues with it being blocked by our filtering and just hangng in the middle of installs because it couldn't verify codes. I was hoping that Lightspeed would make life easier.

 

 

I was having a few issues before I updated the mac to Yosemite with the latest apple configurator. So far all updates install fine and the codes redeem well.

[steveg]

When you create an apple id you first need to "purchase" a free app, when it then asks for your id, go through the process to create one. you will then be presented with the payment option of 'none'. If you just create an iTunes account, then this option is not given. There are also ways to script the creation of accounts.

 

 

Steve

[Joanne]

The second scenario was what I used to do (all of our ipads are for pupil use). However, I found that every time confiurator tried to push out an ios update, at least three or four of the devices crash and have to be wiped and restored. We have also had issues with it being blocked by our filtering and just hangng in the middle of installs because it couldn't verify codes. I was hoping that Lightspeed would make life easier.

 

Yeah as well as updating the mac, just try doing a few at a time instead of the whole bunch... my macbook air totally fell over one time with 24 attached. All of them needed recovering in itunes!! Only do 6 at a time now!

[mikkydoos]

I use Meraki MDM... it's free... but I just use one itunes account and my VPP account is linked to the meraki. I don 't think there is ever an easy way with apple...

 

Switch to Meraki if you want it up and running today

 

 

 

Meraki is excellent. There are lots of niggles though. ALWAYS from the Apple side.

 

I have decided that Apple are the Amish or Mormons of computing.

 

They are cr@p.

[mikkydoos]

We have about 40 Teacher's iPads and 20 Students iPads.

 

Teachers:

I used Apple configurator to push IOS and the IOS settings (wifi, restrictions, certificates etc etc).

Once the iPads run IOS I gave it to the teachers and they had to create an apple ID. Once they have an apple ID, I have attached it to meraki so I can send free and paid apps to them automatically (VPP tab in Meraki)

When buying apps on the VPP store, make sure you get manageable codes.

 

Students:

 

I used Apple configurator to push IOS and the IOS settings (wifi, restrictions, certificates etc etc).

Once the iPads are all setup I then push all the apps via apple configurator using the iPad trolley. The students iPad do not need any apple ID as I manage the apps for the students.

To push apps you just need to get them from iTunes them add them to apple configurator. For paid apps your need to buy redeemable codes from the VPP store, redeem one code in iTunes and them add the excel file to apple configurator.

 

It works really well for me so far even if it took me quite a while before I could make it work properly.

 

 

Will you help me with this then (dont wanna hijack the thread). Im pushing apps out via VPP in Meraki and am still getting prompts for the Apple ID password. What am I doing wrong. I'm pulling my hair out.

[Blue_Cookeh]

Will you help me with this then (dont wanna hijack the thread). Im pushing apps out via VPP in Meraki and am still getting prompts for the Apple ID password. What am I doing wrong. I'm pulling my hair out.

 

You need to supervise your devices in Apple Configurator to stop the password prompts if I remember rightly.

[steewy]

You need to supervise your devices in Apple Configurator to stop the password prompts if I remember rightly.

 

 

Yeap !

 

Well if you have more issues, create a new thread and invite me to it or PM me.

[Joanne]

I have decided that Apple are the Amish or Mormons of computing.

 

They are cr@p.

 

Cr@pple

[sjb]

Tried the free app tip and it works - thank you. Only another 18 accounts to set up!

 

Seriously unimpressed with apple 'support'. Have spoken at length to four different departments today, none of whom had a clue about volume licensing, ipads in schools or how to solve my issue with itunes. Top suggestions were wiping all data from the ipads and starting again, and purchasing 20 itunes vouchers so that I could activate the ipads with them (after I had explained that we buy everything through VPP so had no use for credit on the ipads).

[biz]

There are some handy applescripts out there that will create the Apple IDs for you by looping through the free app creation process in iTunes. I also found one that clicks the links in the verification emails. Handy when you've got more than a few to do (and a lack of minions).

[mikkydoos]

There are some handy applescripts out there that will create the Apple IDs for you by looping through the free app creation process in iTunes. I also found one that clicks the links in the verification emails. Handy when you've got more than a few to do (and a lack of minions).

 

Hey again biz,

 

 

wanna share some ??

[biz]

Hey, pm'd

[SovietRussia]

I do wonder sometimes why MDMs force independent Apple IDs on devices, we have 64 all on the same ID...

 

Again I refer people to the iOS Deployment Guide in which you need to select the best model for you! http://www.apple.com/education/docs/EDU_deployment_overview_en_sept14.pdf

 

(We went for the Shared Use Model plus parts of the Institution-owned one-to-one)

[Brimstone]

There are some handy applescripts out there that will create the Apple IDs for you by looping through the free app creation process in iTunes. I also found one that clicks the links in the verification emails. Handy when you've got more than a few to do (and a lack of minions).

 

I am continually amazed by the lack of knowledge on here about management and deployment of iPads.

 

If you try and use a script to bulk create Apple ID's without being whitelisted by Apple first they will blacklist you and you will not be able to create any more...

 

Talk to an Apple ASE reseller first...

[biz]

Yep, that does happen. I'm continually getting blacklisted.

 

The lovely support staff at [email protected] are always very quick in giving our domain a 30 day whitelisting. I usually get back up and running same-day (taking in to account the time difference between here and Austin, TX).