Apple Configurator 2...?

[minature_hero]

I'd also appreciate a workflow or how-to of some kind as I'm struggling to figure out the correct order to apply changes.

 

I applied a blueprint with restrictions to adding apps for users but then when I try to add additional apps to an ipad the restrictions even stop AC2 adding the new app. I have to first remove the restriction profile and then add the app and then add the restriction profile again. AC1 used to remove/add the profile as part of refreshing the device. Am I missing a step here or is this the process?

 

Hi,

 

Just updated to el capitan and moved to apple configurator 2 and found this thread but can't face wading through 24 pages!

 

Can anyone summarize e.g. a best practice workflow or at least what works for them (maybe in a new thread/sticky) ?!

e.g. something like (but with more details!):

 

1. migrate redemption codes to managed distribution

2. prepare a master ipad device

3. purchase via vpp and add apps and arrange (e.g in folders) on master ipad

3. make a backup of master ipad

4. make profiles as required

5. make a blueprint to restore backup and apply profiles

[Garacesh]

I have to first remove the restriction profile and then add the app and then add the restriction profile again.

It's bloody annoying, but this appears to be "working as intended". You'll encounter the same problem if you try to rename an iPad with name changing restrictions.

[Joanne]

Yeah I've done that. Make sure to rename first and then apply all the restrictions!!

[minature_hero]

So is the process you are using:

 

Supervise and name devices.

Add all apps that are required.

Apply restriction profile.

 

Where do the blueprints come in for this process - I thought that this was supposed to streamline the process into one?

 

To add another app at a later date should I be selecting the ipads to edit, remove the restriction profile, add the new apps, and then add the restriction profile back on? I can't see how the blueprints are helpful at all.... Sigh....

 

Yeah I've done that. Make sure to rename first and then apply all the restrictions!!

[Garacesh]

Where do the blueprints come in for this process - I thought that this was supposed to streamline the process into one?

 

Blueprints are basically a combination of apps and profiles in on fell swoop. It's nothing you can't do manually. They're more for going from black slate to complete quicker, but if you have pre-configured iPads, you're either going to either be mucking about removing profiles and reapplying them later on, or do what I do, and just wipe the iPad and apply the updated blueprint.

[minature_hero]

If you wipe and setup from scratch each time do you have to unassign the apps that were already assigned to get the licenses back or does it know this and pull the licenses back on its own?

 

Blueprints are basically a combination of apps and profiles in on fell swoop. It's nothing you can't do manually. They're more for going from black slate to complete quicker, but if you have pre-configured iPads, you're either going to either be mucking about removing profiles and reapplying them later on, or do what I do, and just wipe the iPad and apply the updated blueprint.

[Garacesh]

If you wipe and setup from scratch each time do you have to unassign the apps that were already assigned to get the licenses back or does it know this and pull the licenses back on its own?

 

Couldn't tell you. Haven't touched iPads for a while. Plus the only apps we have are free ones, so we just grab a bajillion licenses.

If you're paying for apps I'd advise removing restrictions rather than wipe, just as matter of precaution.

[bnew]

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to pre-configure a google account via configurator so that users don't need to enter a password?

 

I have a google account called primary_ipads@my_google_edu_domain.com that I want to have on a whole bunch of iPads. The ONLY reason I want it on there is so that students can upload content to the Google Drive associated with this google account. Teachers (who have the password for this account) can log in elsewhere and retrieve the content. Saves them having to physically plug the ipads into a computer to get photos / videos off them.

 

However, the payload option for google accounts in the profile section doesn't allow for a password- the only three fields are account description, name and email address.

 

Edit: I've had a good read through the documentation here http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/2.2/ but I don't think I can use the payload settings the way that I'm trying too :-( Happy to be proven wrong though.

 

Edit 2: another thing I forgot to ask- is it possible to prevent iOS updates via configurator? I just want to keep iOS version consistent on all the iPads and only update them myself in batches, rather than our students be prompted about the updates. I seem to remember on the older versions of configurator this was an option during the 'prepare' stage, but I can't find it in 2.2

Edited June 28, 2016 by bnew

[Joanne]

I have a random question too.

 

So I use VPP to deploy apps.

 

What happens to the licenses if I wipe my iPads? Will it know that the iPads plugged in had the licenses assigned to them previously? Or do I have to remove licenses before wiping?

 

I like to wipe them before September. New start.

[cscc]

I have a random question too.

 

So I use VPP to deploy apps.

 

What happens to the licenses if I wipe my iPads? Will it know that the iPads plugged in had the licenses assigned to them previously? Or do I have to remove licenses before wiping?

 

I like to wipe them before September. New start.

 

AFAIK similar to previous versions of Apple Configurator you need to plug in the iPads and "Un-supervise" them. This will remove the license information.

[lionsl2005]

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to pre-configure a google account via configurator so that users don't need to enter a password?

 

I have a google account called primary_ipads@my_google_edu_domain.com that I want to have on a whole bunch of iPads. The ONLY reason I want it on there is so that students can upload content to the Google Drive associated with this google account. Teachers (who have the password for this account) can log in elsewhere and retrieve the content. Saves them having to physically plug the ipads into a computer to get photos / videos off them.

 

However, the payload option for google accounts in the profile section doesn't allow for a password- the only three fields are account description, name and email address.

 

Edit: I've had a good read through the documentation here http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/2.2/ but I don't think I can use the payload settings the way that I'm trying too :-( Happy to be proven wrong though.

 

Edit 2: another thing I forgot to ask- is it possible to prevent iOS updates via configurator? I just want to keep iOS version consistent on all the iPads and only update them myself in batches, rather than our students be prompted about the updates. I seem to remember on the older versions of configurator this was an option during the 'prepare' stage, but I can't find it in 2.2

 

What we have set up is bit different. In Our Google APS we have created a standard user ( eg [email protected]) and a admin User. All the folders shared out to standard user in Google Drive and given Edit permission. All ipad google drives are logged in with standard user account ( Manual Job). students or teachers open the google drive app and select shared with me tab and choose the appropriate folder to upload pictures.

 

Second part google Drive is installed in a share in server ( eg Media dive) this share is mapped to teachers as media drives. When teachers and students upload pictures this will get synced to Media drive automatically. Teachers can access the pictures within Media drive in their work stations. Hope this helps.

Edited June 29, 2016 by lionsl2005

[bnew]

What we have set up is bit different. In Our Google APS we have created a standard user ( eg [email protected]) and a admin User. All the folders shared out to standard user in Google Drive and given Edit permission. All ipad google drives are logged in with standard user account ( Manual Job). students or teachers open the google drive app and select shared with me tab and choose the appropriate folder to upload pictures.

 

Second part google Drive is installed in a share in server ( eg Media dive) this share is mapped to teachers as media drives. When teachers and students upload pictures this will get synced to Media drive automatically. Teachers can access the pictures within Media drive in their work stations. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, that is helpful. Always good to hear how others tackle these issues.

[Strawdog]

If you restore an encrypted backup that will retain some, but not all, logged in accounts.

 

We use free Dropbox accounts for this purpose - each set of 30 iPads has a single account associated with it and they're set to automatically upload all photos and videos. The teachers can then just log into these accounts, via http://www.dropbox.com, if they want to retrieve any of them. You do end up with a lot of crap in the accounts, as despite all carrying round smart phones the students seem completely obsessed with taking stupid photos of each other with the iPads, but I just clear them out once a term.

 

Students also have the option of saving other files (Pages, Keynote, Voice Record Pro, etc.) to Dropbox but they have to do this manually and to date none of the staff have done this with them.

Edited July 1, 2016 by Strawdog

[Patrick]

Ok, what am i doing wrong...

 

1) supervised one ipad, added apps, set up how i want etc, and then backed it up

2) create blueprint for wifi etc

3)apply backup to other ipads - this is where it goes wrong

 

I get a pop up on ipad screens about "trust this computer" and the backup doesn't seem to apply, no apps and ipads are in OOBE style screen. Am i going in the complete wrong direction? First time with AC.

[Joanne]

I don't use backups in AC I just use blueprints to add apps and arrange the tiles.

[Patrick]

The school isn't signed up to Apples volume programe, so would backup would be the only other way to add apps?

[Garacesh]

Is there an issue with signing the school up to VPP? Honestly, if you can, that's going to be the better bet.

 

You can restrict access to the App Store in Configurator 2 so there's no risk of the kids buying stuff on the School's wallet.

[Brimstone]

AFAIK similar to previous versions of Apple Configurator you need to plug in the iPads and "Un-supervise" them. This will remove the license information.

 

 

This is incorrect, you do NOT need to Un-Supervise the iPad to revoke apps on them...

 

 

1. Click the disclosure triangle next to an app to view the serial number of the devices the app is assigned to.
    
   
2. Select a device in the list, click the Remove button in the toolbar, then click Revoke.
   

[Joanne]

The school isn't signed up to Apples volume programe, so would backup would be the only other way to add apps?

 

I used to sign in with a regular itunes account and install apps off that with blueprints. That was 2.0 though. Don't know if it's different now.

[Patrick]

Is there an issue with signing the school up to VPP? Honestly, if you can, that's going to be the better bet.

 

You can restrict access to the App Store in Configurator 2 so there's no risk of the kids buying stuff on the School's wallet.

 

Yes down the line, but right now i'm getting to grips with AC and just gonna get the ipads up and running so the kids can use them in class. It's new school i've taken on and the network is a mess so VPP is on a long list.

[minature_hero]

Can I ask what happens to VPP licenses if you setup one iPad in AC2, add the apps that you want using VPP and then take a backup and restore this to other ipads. Is AC2 intelligent enough to know that it needs to consume additional VPP licenses or should I be assigning apps after I've set each device up?

 

Thanks

[bnew]

Yet another question, hopefully an easy one. What do I need to do in Apple Configurator so that the iPads can still be plugged in to any computer and have people access the internal storage?

 

Under the blueprint I'm applying, in the 'prepare' options I've made sure that the option for pairing with other computers is ticked. Also in the profile I'm applying I've ticked the option for 'allow pairing with non configurator hosts'

 

However, when a user plugs the iPad into a computer they get the message 'This iPad is supervised with another computer' (in iTunes). On a Windows computer, I can see the iPad is connected, I can browse to its internal storage, but it appears empty (and there is no prompt on the iPad to allow access to the storage). On a non-supervised iPad, if I plug it in to a Windows computer the internal storage appears empty also, but on the iPad you get a prompt to allow access and once you've said yes to that you can see the contents of the iPad.

 

All I want to do is allow teachers to easily get content off the iPads.

[Baron_Von_Tito]

Hey guys,

Long time browser, first time commentor.

So I'm in a bit of a pickle using AC2. Like many others, AC2 has just left my with a disappointed taste in my mouth as a follow up to AC1.

So I've created several blueprints for the differing year levels and installed them correctly on approximately 100 devices. My question is though, my year 2 team now want a new app installed. I've tried to change the blueprint but it won't update the already loaded devices. I either press 'update' only to be told that I am running the most current iOS and up to date with all apps, or I try to upload the newly changed blueprint only to be told I have to restore and start again. Surely I'm missing something (please for the love of god, tell me I'm missing something) Is there nothing I can do but to go through each supervised device and add in the new app individually?

Apple Configurator 2. Like AC1 but a whole to more time consuming and painful.

[Garacesh]

Surely I'm missing something (please for the love of god, tell me I'm missing something)

Nope.

 

To my knowledge, Update only updates the Operating System and any apps currently on the device (updates will be notified by a red circle with a number). It's got nothing to do with blueprints.

You should just be able to connect the iPads and apply the updated blueprint, though. You'll need to confirm overwrites, but that should 'just work'?

[Blue_Cookeh]

You're causing yourself a lot of headaches if you're not integrating an MDM like Meraki, and Apple VPP with AC2. It takes probably the best part of an hour or two to setup VPP and Meraki, which will give you control over everything necessary to manage iPads in the classroom.

 

Also you're breaking Apple licensing agreements if you're deploying paid apps without VPP.