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Q: OS X Server and administratiom from 1000 units ?

We are just about to implement an Apple server to administer our Iphone's and Ipad's.
Now the question arises as to how many devices can I manage the server makes sense?
I think at 10 to 50 this is certainly not a problem. But it looks like 1000 units or more?

 

Thx for help

 

 

thank you

Michael Koch

Xserve, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 7, 2013 2:13 AM

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Q: OS X Server and administratiom from 1000 units ?

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  • by Simon Slavin,

    Simon Slavin Simon Slavin Jun 7, 2013 3:11 AM in response to netspezi
    Level 4 (1,400 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 3:11 AM in response to netspezi

    There are no hard limits (numbers like 100) built into the software, where it will just refuse to administer more than a certain number of iDevices.  In theory it should work fine with 10,000 units.  But I have no personal experience with that many iDevices and you may run into problems when you try it in real life.

  • by Antonio Rocco,

    Antonio Rocco Antonio Rocco Jun 7, 2013 4:16 AM in response to netspezi
    Level 6 (10,606 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2013 4:16 AM in response to netspezi

    Hi

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4780?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

     

    You should consider using something else (Mobile Iron, Airwatch etc) as OS X Server may not be the best solution for your needs? If you're determined to use it you may have more success adding an OS X Server every 150-200 devices. In a 1000 iOS deployment that would be 5-6 OS X Servers.

     

    Not trying to teach granny to suck eggs here but I would make sure your network designer/administrator fully understands the implications of that many devices on your wirelss network. Don't skimp on the quality and quanity of APs either and try to avoid the use of old-fashioned proxies.

     

    My 2p

     

    Tony

  • by MrHoffman,

    MrHoffman MrHoffman Jun 7, 2013 8:02 AM in response to netspezi
    Level 6 (15,627 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 7, 2013 8:02 AM in response to netspezi

    Um, at the risk of stating the obvious — if you're discussing these unit volumes of iOS devices and the scale of this deployment — call up Apple directly, and have a chat with them.

     

    For other resources, Fraser Speirs has some write-ups on dealing with provisioning and related baggage for his school deployments, and the archives of the Mac Enterprise mailing list contain various discussions of larger-scale deployments of OS X and iOS.

     

    And I concur with Antonio Rocco.  Most non-serious WiFi networks will melt long before you get to a thousand devices.