Using an IPad or Ipad2 on a School Network

[wilson2010]

Hi Guys,

 

We are looking at getting Ipad's in our school and I have a few questions that I am hoping you can help me with.

 

1. Can you configure the IPad so it has a Static IP Address instead of using DHCP?

 

2. Also are you able to force it through a proxy so we can filter the internet?

 

Many Thanks in Advance

 

Wilson

Edited June 24, 2011 by wilson2010

[m25man]

Not sure why this post hasn't been answered yet, but the answer is yes to both...

 

However connecting them isn't the problem it's the management of them that causes the problems.

It all depends on how you plan to use them, there are plenty of threads already here on the subject search the forums here first before creating a steel rod for your own back....

[GrumbleDook]

One of the easiest ways of doing this is by using DHCP reservations to ensure a consistent IP address. Personally, I recommend it for all devices in a school anyway to help with asset management and audit.

 

For setting the proxy then you can use PAC files, but I know that this can be an issue if you are using NTLM authentication. I have also seen a school which used a transparent proxy as the default gateway instead of the regular gateway to ensure that all traffic passed through it and was filtered.

[wilson2010]

Thank you for the reply guys.

 

We don't have any yet in the school, we are looking at getting a few test Ipads to see how they work within our school. I have had a look around the forum at different uses for the Ipad.

 

In our school we block access to YouTube (request from the Head) so that's one use we can use the Ipads for. I do see people that find useful apps for the Ipad but that's the only benefit i really see in using them.

 

Is there anyone who does have Ipads in school that do find them really beneficial in the teaching environment? If so what do you use them for?

 

Many thanks

 

Wilson

[FN-GM]

FYI you have posted in the wrong forum, an iPad isnt a mac

 

It needs to go here: Netbooks, PDA and Phones

[slancaster]

we use our iPads wirelessly with DHCP and then point them to a .pac file stored on our xserve which sends traffic via the proxy.

I can paste our .pac file contents on here if anyone wants them - works a treat.

[witch]

Thread moved

[storkyIV]

You can set proxy details within the wireless connection of the iPad, but the problem I envisage is how do you lock the iPad down so that users can't access the settings etc.

[PEO]

Im sure that the new Lion OS Server will allow you to managae the devices. This maybe worth looking into.

[slancaster]

we use the "iphone configuration utility"

 

iPhone Configuration Utility 3.3 for Mac OS X

 

which isnt perfect TBH - you can lock down certain things but its not great.

 

im hoping Lion will provide a better solution

[GrumbleDook]

I'll be booting into Lion again tonight to play with this and iOS 4 ... so will report back.

[slancaster]

nice one cheers

[damien.deakes]

Try iPhone Configuration Utility (yes it does need renaming it works on all iOs devices)

Locks the iOS devices down a treat, can remove any icons, passcode protect the settings page, stop users installing/removing/moving apps.

Edited June 29, 2011 by damien.deakes

[martin_hannah]

I'm after doing the same thing for the ipads here so they can access the exchange server - at the moment there is no way of specifying which local addresses will bypass the proxy so the when the ipads are trying to connect to exchange they hit the proxy and error out. When no proxy is specified they connect no problem.

 

It would be great if I could get some advice on setting up an auto config file to run on a county network as so far i've just let group policy deal with IE proxy settings..

 

Proxy server is proxy.wsgfl.org.uk port 8080 needs to bypass 172.*

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Martin

Edited July 11, 2011 by martin_hannah

[slancaster]

Here is the text from our .pac file stored on our Xserve.

All of our portable devices point to this pac file and we have no problems.

 

function FindProxyForURL(url, host)

{

 

//Loopback and localhost always goes via browser direct.

//include any local bypass domains here as well, in the format "shExpMatch(url, "************.local*") "

 

if ((host== "localhost") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*localhost.*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.2*") || //our xserve

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.1*") || //our DC

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.67*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.52*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*169.254/16*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*xserve.mmhs.school*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*mossmail.mmhs.school*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.3*") || //our mail server

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.59*") ||

shExpMatch(host, "*172.16.80.109*") ||

isPlainHostName(host) ||

(host == "127.0.0.1"))

{

return "DIRECT";

}

 

//All other requests go through port 8881 of wc***cal.***********.local

// should that fail to respond, go directly to the WWW:

 

return "PROXY 10.112.5.193:80" //our external proxy

}

[martin_hannah]

Thanks for that, i've now got the .pac file sorted. Now how do I get the mobile devices to point to it? Sorry for my ignorance, i've never set up an auto proxy before..

[slancaster]

no problem

 

on the iPhones / iPads / iPod Touches

 

Assuming you have the latest iOS you need to click on "settings" "wifi" and then join your desired wifi network. After joining the network you click on the blue disclosure triangle, next to the wireless name. This opens up the advanced settings page. At the bottom of this page there is a "http proxy" section. Click "Auto" and then type in the location of your .pac file

 

in our case its http://172.16.80.2/pac/pacfilename.pac

[Teknosgirl]

we use our iPads wirelessly with DHCP and then point them to a .pac file stored on our xserve which sends traffic via the proxy.

I can paste our .pac file contents on here if anyone wants them - works a treat.

 

Hi

could you post the PAC file you have used on your server, please?

thanks,

teknosgirl

[j224]

Hi Teknosgirl,

 

Look on Page 1 of the thread. Slancaster has posted the pac file contents there.