Managing Ipad's in a school

[Darylrese]

Hey guys,

 

We got a brand new windows network in the summer and now thats in place the school are starting to look at ipads and apple technology.

 

We have ordered 20 ipad 2's to start us off and this will be the first time we have used them in school.

 

How do we go about getting all the ipads the same? Do you download and configure everything on the first ipad and sync the other ipads with the same itunes account or is there an easier way of doing it? Where do i start in terms of locking these down so that students cant purchase / download new apps etc?

 

Our school are also keen for us to create ibooks, do you HAVE to have a MAC for this or is there a way of making them on ipad / windows?

 

Any help is appriciated as they are turning up tomorrow and students / staff are eager to use them.

[PScrimshaw]

HI,

Ive just joined and spotted your question, not sure if you have found a solution yet but you can do the following:

 

Setup your first iPad exactly how you want it and with all the apps you want the pupils to use, connect it to your network and anything else you need.

Plug it in to iTunes and select Encrypted Backup and add a password, this captures all your ipads settings in the backup.

Now when you plug the other iPads in one at a time or all together with a trolly, you can click on them and instead of selecting Setup as a new ipad you will select Restore from Backup and select the Master backup you created above.

This will transfer everything onto the new iPads, it will take time but once its done your good to go.

Be aware that this is your choice to do this and I am only offering a solution. Apple now provide a volume purchasing system in conjunction with Configurator that allows you to setup ipads and buy apps in volume so you are legally covered.

 

Hope this helps.

[Darylrese]

thank-you i thought this would be the case! Can you only associate 10 ipads with one itunes account or is this no longer the case?

 

I believe the configurator is only available on a MAC?

[Stevecee]

Hi

 

You can download the iPhone configuration utility for PC

 

Also you do need to create iBooks on a mac! thsi could be a mini which are not too expensive if this is all you want to do with it.

 

Steve

[Darylrese]

Will the iphone software work for ipads too? Thank-you Edited November 16, 2012 by Darylrese

[HarryMonkey]

Here's the link for the software ... iPhone Configuration Utility 3.6.1 for Windows

 

You might also want to have a look at the Meraki Systems Manager software as well ... Meraki Systems Manager

[Stevecee]

Hi here is link to PC version of iPhone Configuration Utility and yes you can use it foe iPads!

 

Steve

[PScrimshaw]

There is no limit on the number of iPads you can sync, the main issue is the time it takes for them to complete, but in the past Ive set them running in the day and by the next morning they are all sorted. Beyond doing that, you would only need to repeat this process if you purchased a lot of new apps. You can also select to have the App Store auto download any apps you purchase. But if you restrict the ipad and disable the apps store this doesn't work. Configurator is Mac only. I haven't used the iPhone software mentioned by Stevecee.

[Stevecee]

Hi

The iPhone config utility is an Apple app which is available for both Mac and PC the link that Steve Newman added is for the latest version on the Apple Site - there is not much in the way of support for it in the way of manuals etc. I mainly use it to set wifi and email on our ipads

 

Steve

[HarryMonkey]

There's some online info here ... Loading…

[Darylrese]

Hi

The iPhone config utility is an Apple app which is available for both Mac and PC the link that Steve Newman added is for the latest version on the Apple Site - there is not much in the way of support for it in the way of manuals etc. I mainly use it to set wifi and email on our ipads

 

Steve

 

Thank-you. How do you use the software? Do you just configure the settings you need then plug in the ipad to sync the settings? Do you need itunes for anything?

[Darylrese]

I cant get the profile to install onto an ipad, plug it in, create a profile and hit install and it does nothing??

[Darylrese]

HI,

Ive just joined and spotted your question, not sure if you have found a solution yet but you can do the following:

 

Setup your first iPad exactly how you want it and with all the apps you want the pupils to use, connect it to your network and anything else you need.

Plug it in to iTunes and select Encrypted Backup and add a password, this captures all your ipads settings in the backup.

Now when you plug the other iPads in one at a time or all together with a trolly, you can click on them and instead of selecting Setup as a new ipad you will select Restore from Backup and select the Master backup you created above.

This will transfer everything onto the new iPads, it will take time but once its done your good to go.

Be aware that this is your choice to do this and I am only offering a solution. Apple now provide a volume purchasing system in conjunction with Configurator that allows you to setup ipads and buy apps in volume so you are legally covered.

 

Hope this helps.

 

This doesnt seem to restore apps using this method?