Apple Configurator 2...?

[Joanne]

ooh yeah... just gonna try and install 2.1 now, after the 10.11.1 update of course :-/

[Strawdog]

No dice for me - still randomly failing, missing iPads, falling over midway, etc.

[ass17]

What is even more annoying then deploying a blueprint and reinstalling the OS is the fact that if you create a profile that assigns a wifi that requires logging into in order to get an Internet connection. We have a set of 32 that the junior school use and to filter/track their history we ask them to sign into smoothwall every 2 hours of inactivity. But the problem is that the apps now only appear on the device once they have downloaded, no pre-install anymore, but this won't happen until a user signs in, thus waists time if the app they want to use is last of 100!!!!!! Edited November 2, 2015 by ass17

[Zoranp]

Another issue is when assigning apps in the blueprint, then apply the blueprint, if one of the apps fails the whole blueprint isn't applied. Why can't it just skip the app and carry on!!! Arrghh

 

I would disagree with this!

It actually gives you the option (at least I get it) to 'Skip'.

 

AC2.1 has fixed the issue with wifi password. With AC2 I couldn't type in the password, but since updated to 2.1 is all good now.

 

I have to say, the AC2.1 works great for me (for now).

 

If processing iPads via AC2/2.1, yes you'll loose connections for some time, but they do come back and are visible in AC.

 

Appse are NOT stored on Mac device anymore, it will redownload every time.

If you follow the steps below, at least it won't redownload iOS every time.

 

Quick guide:

 

0. In AC2.1, log in with your apple ID.

1. Prepare your 'master' iPad to be supervised.

2. Create new profile, with your wifi settings info.

3. Create new blueprint

4. Double click on your created blueprint to edit.

4.1 - Add apps (through your blueprint)

4.2 - Add profile (through your blueprint)

4.3 - Select Done

5. Apply your blueprint (with apps/profile) to your 'master' iPad

6. When finished, create folders on your 'master' iPad.

7. When done setting up your 'master' iPad,

8. Select your blueprint, right click on your blueprint, Apply - Backup (this will backup your 'master' iPad with all setting onto your blueprint.

9. Apply ONLY your blueprint to other iPads, as this blueprint will have, apps, profile and image of your 'master' iPad.

10. Before anybody starts doing anything, PLEASE read these steps again

 

Cheers

[Joanne]

I've just successfully applied a blue print to 1 iPad without issue. Just added the dreaded paid for app Comic Life onto the blue print and I am attempting to re-apply.... It's still on step 1 of 69, will let you know how I fare.

[donkeymusic]

Hello,

 

we have taken delivery of a set of new iPads and I had planned to update them via Apple Configurator, only to find out that they were AC was not supporting 9.1 devices. looked into this further and found out about Apple Configurator 2, so on a spare iMac i have updated to El Capitan and AC2 to test.

 

I have also done some Google searches and read the whole of this thread and had a play with AC2 and everything seems to work fine, so now i want to look at configuring the set of iPads. However there are a few issues I haven't been able to find answers for, so wondered if anyone could assist me?

 

1 - As a current AC user, we have used just this to manage our iPad trolleys, having previously looked at Profile Manager and Meraki, so what I was wondering is what is the benefits of using AC2 and Profile Manager? as its appears a lot of the restrictions/management options are duplicated, the only benefit is that these settings can be pushed over wi-fi reducing the need for devices to be returned to AC2? Am I right in my thinking? also if this is the case, then where do you set your restrictions, AC2 or Profile Manager?

 

2 - Blueprints, i dont quite get how they are updated, I can create them but i don't get how to update these with settings like folder structures, wallpapers etc. Also if a blueprint is installing apps, when i update a device will it override the apps? My concern with this is, we had an iPad trolley that used a video app that stored content within the app until exported to Camera Roll. I also had a master iPad image that when the device were plugged in for updating would then push out the master image, this however reset all apps so i wouldn't want this to happen with the blueprints.

 

3 - How do i restrict the changing of wallpapers and passcodes, i thought i had looked everywhere but cant see this option.

 

Thanks for you assistance.

[dloudon96]

Hello Donkeymusic,

 

I can help you with option 3, but i can't really help with the other two options...

 

First of all you'll need to make sure that the iPads are updated to the latest version of iOS 9.1.

 

Basically on AC 2, you will need to create a new profile by going to:

 

*File,

*New,

*Profile,

Give the profile a name such as *iOS9RESTRICTIONS*, once you've done this you'll need to go to the 'restrictions' tab, under 'passcode', click on configure, you want to un-tick the following options

 

'Allow modifying Wallpaper (supervised only)'

'Allow modifying passcode (supervised only)'

 

Once you've unticked them two options, leave the rest ticked as you can configure the other options via Meraki MDM.

 

Save the profile by going to 'file' 'save', save it onto your desktop.

 

In Apple Configurator, plug in an iPad, you then need to click on 'Actions' at the top, 'add', 'profiles...' go and find the profile settings you've saved to your desktop, once you have found it click on 'add', this will install the profile on the iPad.

 

When going through the setup steps on the iPad, you'll be best entering your wifi password manually rather than using Apple Configurator and adding it into the profile.

 

If you need anymore help you can e-mail me directly:

 

[email protected]

 

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

[Garacesh]

2 - Blueprints, i dont quite get how they are updated, I can create them but i don't get how to update these with settings like folder structures, wallpapers etc. Also if a blueprint is installing apps, when i update a device will it override the apps? My concern with this is, we had an iPad trolley that used a video app that stored content within the app until exported to Camera Roll. I also had a master iPad image that when the device were plugged in for updating would then push out the master image, this however reset all apps so i wouldn't want this to happen with the blueprints.

To my knowledge, blueprints are naming conventions, profiles and apps. Nothing more.

[donkeymusic]

Thanks Dan,

 

I think i just overlooked the option will go back to it tomorrow and have a look.

 

Can i ask why you mention to not add wifi settings via AC?

 

Thanks

Thanks

[dloudon96]

No problem, can probably can add the via AC, but it's just my person choice not to, saying that, I would add them because it means the users can't ever forget the network. Ignore the message about not adding it, I would add it via AC2.

[dloudon96]

I was just writing the email from the top of my head and couldn't quite remember how I did it with our iPads.

[ass17]

I've not tried this as yet but if you installed apps from a normal Apple ID the first time you run any app on the iPad it prompts you to insert the Apple ID username and password. It makes sense as they were bought by a specific user and tied to an account that has yet to be signed in.

 

This is the bit I haven't tried: if you sign in on AC2 to the store using the VPP apple ID, when it puts the apps on will the be device assigned? So no sign in is required? This is the question I'm asking. Also how do you know if you have enough license?

[Garacesh]

I've not tried this as yet but if you installed apps from a normal Apple ID the first time you run any app on the iPad it prompts you to insert the Apple ID username and password. It makes sense as they were bought by a specific user and tied to an account that has yet to be signed in.

 

This is the bit I haven't tried: if you sign in on AC2 to the store using the VPP apple ID, when it puts the apps on will the be device assigned? So no sign in is required? This is the question I'm asking. Also how do you know if you have enough license?

 

Not so sure about device assigned, you use VPP to buy licenses (say, you 'buy' 150 free app licenses) and then you deploy the app and it uses one of your licenses. In response to the 'no sign in' bit, yes. Using the VPP account to deploy apps means you're not asked for an apple ID

[dloudon96]

Hello,

 

I've had a response from Apple this morning about Apple Configurator 2;

 

I basically e-mailed them a few weeks ago saying...

 

Hello _______,

 

I'm having a few issues with Apple Configurator 2, when I am trying to create a new profile to add restrictions to the iPads such as stopping students from changing the wallpaper background and adding passcodes to the iPads etc the profile is applying, but only to iPads that have been updated to iOS 9.1. It takes a long time to update 255 iPads and then sit down and add the new restriction profile to the iPads. I've noticed a new 'feature' called blueprints, i'm not sure how this works, i want to setup a iPad with a background wallpaper as our school logo, i wanted to back up the iPad with the layout that i want, along with the new configuration profile etc and add that to the blueprint but that doesn't seems to be as easy as i wanting it to be (saying that, it's Apple so it never is as easy).

 

If you could get back to me as soon as possible as i've spent the whole of the summer holidays updating the iPads to iOS 8.1.4 and creating 255 Apple ID's and e-mail accounts, and also assigning them to our Meraki MDM solution, so i've done alot of work with the iPads during the holidays to get them sorted ready for September and you bring out iOS 9.1, and Apple Configurator 2 and from what i'm not experiencing with Apple Configurator 2 i'm going to have to start all over again with the iPads just to get them setup how I want them instead of allowing the user to apply a profile with the new restrictions of not letting the students changing the wallpaper background and adding passcodes etc.

 

I tried to apply the new profile and 'prepare' the new device from scratch by wiping them and now when i'm trying to set them back up again i'm getting an error because it says that they aren't supervised, even clicking on 'prepare' did nothing at all.

 

If you can get back to me as soon as possible about the issues i'm having that would be great.

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

 

I got a reply from them this morning after a few brief e-mails going back and forward talking about Apple Configurator 2...

 

'Hi Dan,

 

I got a response from the engineers regarding the profiles and the restrictions.

The reason that the two restrictions work in iOS 9 and above is that they were only ever intended to work with iOS 9 and above.

Our online developer library of Profile Manager (where all restrictions come from) at https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/featuredarticles/iPhoneConfigurationProfileRef shows this.

The two specific keys: “allowWallpaperModification" and “allowPasscodeModification” shows as “Available in iOS 9.0 and later”, so the workaround of updating is expected.

 

 

 

With that particular issue put to rest, I want to focus on the two iPads.

Apple Configurator 2 changed the workflow in how devices were prepared, supervised and assigned, from the old way in AC1 where it was a clear progression of Preparing a device, moving to supervising one, on to assigning a device.'

 

I really hope Apple can get the issues fixed as it's driving me around the bend, and by some of the other posts on here, it's also annoying them too!

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

[Garacesh]

That seems a fairly straightforward answer. iOS 9+ has the “allowWallpaperModification" and “allowPasscodeModification” flags. Earlier versions do not.

No different to saying "Windows 10 has Microsoft Edge support, Windows 7 does not."

[Garacesh]

I thought I'd gotten everything sorted (ish.. ) but it turns out that the iPads can't load up many web pages. Apps are working fine but if you try to go use Safari, most of the time you get the error Cannot Verify Server Identity. The identity of $URL cannot be verified by Safari.

 

Is this to do with HTTPS resources? http://www.bbc.co.uk works whereas https://www.bbc.co.uk does not. However, the default bookmark of https://www.apple.com/uk does work, but that may be some in-built certificate.

 

Anyone know anything about this? Did I miss a setting? Configurator only gives the option for a global HTTP proxy and not a HTTPS one? Could it be a problem with Smoothwall's configuration? I did make a post in the Smoothwall support forum but that hasn't gotten me anywhere.

[Sheridan]

Updated to 2.1 and grabbed a single iPad to test it out with great expectations.

 

Crashed out immediately. Couldn't be bothered to even diagnose the error.

 

Back to 1.7 again

[Zoranp]

donkeymusic, why would you go to AC2 if you have Meraki setup already?

Profiles settings are same in AC2 and Meraki, no difference.

 

If you're interested in AC2, then go back one page, and you will find some useful information on AC2.

 

Just did an other iPad this morning with AC2.1 and everything works great.

 

Cheers

[tmoon-mint]

donkeymusic, why would you go to AC2 if you have Meraki setup already?

Profiles settings are same in AC2 and Meraki, no difference.

 

If you're interested in AC2, then go back one page, and you will find some useful information on AC2.

 

Just did an other iPad this morning with AC2.1 and everything works great.

 

Cheers

 

I use both. AC2 for the initial setup and then Meraki to manage and deploy apps from that point onwards. Had a few teething problems with AC2 but once I got my blueprints setup as I wanted them and fixed the issue with apps by using managed distribution all is okay now. Absolutely loving the fact that the kids cant put passcodes on or change the schools wallpaper anymore. Much to the displeasure of the students of course!

[Zoranp]

I use both. AC2 for the initial setup and then Meraki to manage and deploy apps from that point onwards. Had a few teething problems with AC2 but once I got my blueprints setup as I wanted them and fixed the issue with apps by using managed distribution all is okay now. Absolutely loving the fact that the kids cant put passcodes on or change the schools wallpaper anymore. Much to the displeasure of the students of course!

 

Can you to the initial setup with Meraki?

Last week or two I've registered with Meraki and want to give it a go.

yeah, that is the beauty of new AC one less headache with passcodes and all different 'weird' wallpapers

 

Cheers

[Joanne]

I've found that 'book creator' seems to cause an issue when trying to apply a blueprint. Taken it off and it works ok now.

[mattg77]

OSX 10.11.1

Apple Configurator 2 Ver 2.1

Apple Configurator Ver 1.7.2

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)

I'm attempting to migrate from Configurator 1.7.2 to configurator 2 using the migration assistant.

However I always get the this error message when the data is migrating. I can not get past this point and none of my data is copied to ver 2. Im at a lost to how to proceed. Any Ideas?

 

[Brimstone]

OSX 10.11.1

Apple Configurator 2 Ver 2.1

Apple Configurator Ver 1.7.2

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)

 

I'm attempting to migrate from Configurator 1.7.2 to configurator 2 using the migration assistant.

 

However I always get the this error message when the data is migrating. I can not get past this point and none of my data is copied to ver 2. Im at a lost to how to proceed. Any Ideas?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]33216[/ATTACH]

 

 

The migration assistant is looking for an existing spreadsheet of redeem codes with that name, do you not have this on your Mac?

[Strawdog]

Noticed iPad 4s and Airs can be imaged much more reliably than iPad 3s - could be a coincidence or could be related to connection bandwidth/CPU speed (or just because AC 2/2.1 is crap)….

[Ax_kidson]

AC2 and Meraki is doing my head in ... not sure what I'm doing wrong