Mac OS X Server and iPad MDM Management

[jdell]

We are currently about 2 weeks away from releasing 18 iPad's into a classroom on a permanent basis as the start of a much larger roll out however we are yet to decide on the best way to manage them. I have seen there are plenty of MDM solutions to pick from but have yet to see one which works well at an educational price (not £150 a client) as one I saw was. Are any of you guys using iPads on a large scale if so what are you using them with and how have you set them up as I can see it being easy to set up 18 but to do more than this would be a massive pain in the a***.

 

Please let me know what you think and what you are using!

 

We have 18 iPad 2's and a Mac Server running OS X Lion Server.

 

Thanks

[ste1988]

this is probably the best way I've been of doing it, without needing to buy third party systems

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mac/95070-process-bulk-imaging-ipad-using-mac-osx-apple-config-itunes.html

[tom_pearson]

We only have 15 iPads so far, but also need to manage a plethora of iPhones so we've opted for Airwatch. So far this has been very useful, I don't remember what we're paying off the top of my head.

I use Apple Configurator to prepare the devices, which also installs the Airwatch app. The Enterprise Integration Service means we can authenticate with AD users too.

[jdell]

Thanks tom_pearson however I just checked over there cost and its £32 a year for the device plus £1000 a year for the contract and thats if we use out own server to manage it, £1580 appx and thats just the start for us we are looking to increase the iPad use to over 100 so it will really start to add up but thanks for the info

[ste1988]

£32 per device per year, ouch, for that i would expect something good!!! what does sound good about it is AD auth, but that comes at a heavy price.

[localzuk]

Take a look at Meraki's MDM platform. Its free... Meraki Systems Manager

[adhutton]

Take a look at Meraki's MDM platform. Its free... Meraki Systems Manager

 

+1 for Meraki .....its Greeeeattt!

 

Andrew

[jdell]

I like the words FREE!!!

 

Thanks!!

[ShaneShepherd-Ashby]

Has anyone used the built in Profile Manager (with MDM enabled)??? this is the option that was given to me... If so, I'd like to here or even see how you have got it to work... The following is a guide to how I've been told to set up:

 

1. Mac Mini running MAC OS X Lion Server - OD and DNS running

2. Services to be configured and in this order: 1. Web - to see if I can get it from outside the DMZ it is located in; 2. Profile Manager with Device Mgnt config'd/enabled; 3. File Shareing (SFTP); 4. iChat and Wiki (Wiki I know works); 5. iMail - MAYBE Closed mail between devices??? ...

 

 

Appox 109 iPads, 200+ users, 4 MACBooks (currently configured for Apple Config), Still not sure how they want to manage the "USER ACCOUNTS", ie: account for the Device or for the Person Users...???? These devices are not here in my LOC, So registration will be done by remote... Yet another layer of complexity, just what I need!!!!

[scumboss]

Sorry to bump but we've found Airwatch have special educational discounts and a FTE model for charging if you get past a certain number of devices. We've been quoted £12 per device per year on a hosted model or £6 per device per year for on premise solution. There is an initial setup cost of around £1800 for the on premise consultancy. On premise is a requirement of the FTE model which becomes cost effective as the number of devices grow.

[lumines]

Sorry to bump but we've found Airwatch have special educational discounts and a FTE model for charging if you get past a certain number of devices. We've been quoted £12 per device per year on a hosted model or £6 per device per year for on premise solution. There is an initial setup cost of around £1800 for the on premise consultancy. On premise is a requirement of the FTE model which becomes cost effective as the number of devices grow.

 

Do you happen to have costs for perpetual educational licenses?

[scumboss]

Sorry we don't but we understand it would kick in at 250 devices. The cost is based on staff FTE.