TrevorWWW

Q: Apple Configurator 2 and restoring backups

Hi. Like everyone else I have been forced to Apple Configurator 2 through no choice of my own and now I am about ready to burst with frustration! Ok thats my vent..now onto my problem.

 

My previous workflow involved supervising a master iPad, installing apps and profiles, rearranging all the apps into various groups and folders etc then backing up the master iPad and restoring that backup to all other supervised devices. This worked just fine in Apple Configurator v1.x. Sadly I have not been able to do this with v2. I really need to know whetherv2 has this functionality or no. It would seem that I can prepare an iPad either manually or via a blueprint but as soon as I restore from backup the device is no longer supervised! If you know of a way to make this work I will be most appreciative of your input. If you know for a fact its not possible any more I would also appreciate you telling me that bad news as well so I can stop hitting my head up against this computer screen...please be kind...I'm a bit fragile atm.

 

Screen Shot 2015-10-25 at 2.48.05 PM.png

Screen Shot 2015-10-25 at 2.50.34 PM.png

iPad Mini, iOS 9.1, Apple Configurator 2

Posted on Oct 24, 2015 10:02 PM

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Q: Apple Configurator 2 and restoring backups

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  • by sps039,

    sps039 sps039 Nov 4, 2015 6:57 AM in response to zoranp3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 6:57 AM in response to zoranp3

    Hi Zoranp3

     

    I have followed you description but have some difficulties doing item 8.

    If you mean EDIT BLUEPRINT, right click, I don't find APPLY - BACKUP.

     

    In stead I backed up my iPad after item 7 and went into my blueprint and applied "Restore from backup".

     

    I then applied the blueprint to a unprepared iPad and got the following message:

         Configurator requires user interaction to install the profile “All iPads, WiFi only, 2015.11.04” on “MTDKSVBIPADW-Master” because it is unsupervised.

     

    I'm running El Capitan 10.11.1 (15B42)

              and

    Apple Configurator 2, Version 2.1 (3B42),

         Installed Frameworks:

              AirTrafficHost (580.5)

              MobileDevice (823.10.3)

     

    It would be nice with some help here.

     

    Thanks in advance

    /Soren

  • by bravid70,

    bravid70 bravid70 Nov 6, 2015 2:26 AM in response to zoranp3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2015 2:26 AM in response to zoranp3

    Hi Zoranp3,

     

    could you explain me what do you mean by create folders in step 6 and how to do this.

     

    Thanks in advance, Branko

  • by MikeICT,

    MikeICT MikeICT Nov 7, 2015 8:10 AM in response to TrevorWWW
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 8:10 AM in response to TrevorWWW

    Hi,

     

    do you first supervise your "master" device, then install the required VPP apps, create the folders and settings and finally backup the device to be restored for others? Just wondering, how do you assign paid app licenses to other devices, if it is restored from the "master".

     

    Is it possible to combine Configurator 2 with DEP? Like restoring the "master" image to other device, then setting up the device with DEP.

     

    Are supervised devices updated automatically or do you need user action?

     

    Thank you for your reply.

  • by bravid70,

    bravid70 bravid70 Nov 9, 2015 12:24 AM in response to sps039
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 12:24 AM in response to sps039

    Hi sps039,

     

    I´m facing the same problem.

    Have you figured out the solution yet?

    Any help would be most appreciated.

     

    Regards, Branko

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Nov 9, 2015 9:26 AM in response to MikeICT
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Nov 9, 2015 9:26 AM in response to MikeICT

    Did you follow 's procedure in this thread.  Here is the link:

    Re: Apple Configurator 2 and restoring backups

     

    In the typical ASC snafu, you will see the post briefly, the see a page up to the previous post.  You need to scroll down to find post .

     

    R

  • by wudinna.area.school,

    wudinna.area.school wudinna.area.school Nov 9, 2015 7:26 PM in response to zoranp3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 7:26 PM in response to zoranp3

    Did that message to supervise appear on the iPad or through Configurator? I am having the same issue: following these steps but end up with an unsupervised iPad that will not accept my Profile because it's unsupervised.

     

    On the iPad I was prompted to accept the Profile but, when I tried, it also gave me the "unsupervised" message.

  • by Pizzy,

    Pizzy Pizzy Nov 9, 2015 10:45 PM in response to zoranp3
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 10:45 PM in response to zoranp3

    Like many of you, I spent days trying to get these steps to work without ending up with unsupervised iPads.  I tried so many combinations. It is incredibly and sorely understood that Apple did not fully test Configurator 2, and it is junk. It has so much potential to be great, but this is garbage.


    I know Stealth and Zoran's steps seem right and should work, but there is no explanation why Zoran was in the same boat as us the day before, then it suddenly worked the next day. Was it a reboot, a night's rest, static electricity, who knows?  Either way, we're all left with unsupervised ipads asking for user interaction to get the profiles installed. No good.


    So, these are my steps that worked:

    1) Restore an iPad to be your Master in Config2.

    2) Prepare that iPad to be supervised in Config2.

    3) Once it is Prepared, File > New Blueprint, and add apps and a profile for wifi, etc.

    4) Apply that Blueprint to the Master iPad.

    5) Physically take the iPad and arrange the apps into folders, open apps, and apply settings, etc.

    6) Take a backup of that iPad through Config2.

    7) This is where you would normally add this 'Restore from Backup' to the same blueprint, but no matter what, I kept ending up with unsupervised.

    8) Therefore, just select the unsupervised batch of iPads you still want to setup and click Actions > Restore from Backup directly (no blueprint), and apply the backup you just took.

    9) When they finish, click Prepare, and supervise them.

    10) When they are in the Supervised list, select them all and apply a Blueprint of Apps and Profile only (no restore). This will put the apps in place and apply the profile without any prompt. I now have a working set of iPads, but not nearly as easily as it should have been completed.


    I have a very thorough workflow, but this is the abridged version since I don't think it should be this way.

  • by wudinna.area.school,

    wudinna.area.school wudinna.area.school Nov 9, 2015 11:19 PM in response to Pizzy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 11:19 PM in response to Pizzy

    Pizzy: does this flow result in an iPad with the correct image on it, though? As in, all apps sorted into folders with applied settings etc?

     

    When you Prepare and Supervise an iPad it wipes everything so I can't see the point to your step 8. I did it anyway, just to test.

     

    Following your workflow (including step 8) I end up with a new, supervised iPad with the correct apps BUT the apps are not sorted or have any settings applied etc. The backup had no influence on the result as far as i can tell...

  • by TrevorWWW,

    TrevorWWW TrevorWWW Nov 10, 2015 12:18 AM in response to TrevorWWW
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 12:18 AM in response to TrevorWWW

    Thank you to everyone that has made a contribution to this difficult question. I have finally found a workflow that works for me in my setting. No doubt others may find it doesn't for them cause as stated there are so many combinations and some seem to work for some people and not others! I'm assuming you've purchased apps or migrated them to managed.

     

    1. Restore an iPad. I call this my master iPad. This wipes the iPad and installs iOS 9.x.

    2. Prepare iPad.

    3. Add profile/s if necessary for wireless access.

    4. Add apps.

    5. Arrange apps in order/folders. Configure restrictions and other settings you require.

    6. Backup iPad. (Maybe you might wish to change its name first to reflect your restore group eg. Prep, Junior etc)

    8. Unplug the master ipad.

    7. Create a new Blueprint and add the apps you added to your master ipad. Choose restore backup (not prepare) and select the backup of the master you just made. Don't add any profiles in this blueprint!!

    8. Plug in your iPads you wish to setup. (I had issues with a couple of hubs so be careful to choose a good one. I only restored 16 at a time.)

    9. Select the iPads and restore them the same as step 1.

    10. Select iPads and apply the blueprint containing the apps and the backup of your master ipad. Note this could take a while as managed apps will be downloaded all over again. An app caching server is a huge time saver! Note that iPads will still not show as supervised yet.

    11. Select iPads and PREPARE! This is the magic step or at least it was for me. Took just a few seconds.

    12. Select your iPads and add your profiles.

    13. Rename and set wallpapers.

    14. If this works for you celebrate and regain your sanity. If it doesn't keep trying cause I'm sure you will figure it out eventually.

     

    NOTE to people who can't rename their iPads. I had this restriction set in a profile which meant I had to remove the profile then rename and add it back. Silly me.

     

    GOod luck!! And thanks again to everyone for your help.    ❤️

  • by MikeICT,

    MikeICT MikeICT Nov 10, 2015 9:24 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 9:24 AM in response to rccharles

    Hi,

     

    I read every post before posting my question. It is about licensing. Do you need to have separate app license for each device from VPP store before restoring from the "master"? A blueprint with a backup and a number of required app licenses.

     

    Thank you.

  • by zoranp3,

    zoranp3 zoranp3 Nov 10, 2015 3:14 PM in response to sps039
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 3:14 PM in response to sps039

    "SPS039

    Hi Zoranp3

    I have followed you description but have some difficulties doing item 8.

    If you mean EDIT BLUEPRINT, right click, I don't find APPLY - BACKUP."

     

    Are you sure??? I'm sitting just in front of my macbook and have AC2.1 in front of me.

    Select BLUEPRINT - EDIT BLUEPRINTS. Then right click on your blueprint (one with apps and profile), and select BACKUP. (this will backup your master ipad onto your blueprint)

    ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________

     

    "Hi Zoranp3,

    could you explain me what do you mean by create folders in step 6 and how to do this.

    Thanks in advance, Branko"

     

    Branko, if you don't want to have 20 icons on your multiple screens, you can always make different folders and have those apps in each folder. eg. photo apps can go to photography folder, office apps to office folder...

    ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________

     

    "MikeICT

    Hi, do you first supervise your "master" device, then install the required VPP apps, create the folders and settings and finally backup the device to be restored for others? Just wondering, how do you assign paid app licenses to other devices, if it is restored from the "master".

    Is it possible to combine Configurator 2 with DEP? Like restoring the "master" image to other device, then setting up the device with DEP.

    Are supervised devices updated automatically or do you need user action?

    Thank you for your reply."

     

    Mike, haven't used paid apps yet, but I'm assuming it might install on first 20 iPads (if purchased only 20 licenses). AC and DEP, not sure, I don't see why you couldn't use it. It was possible with AC1.

    If your master iPad is updated, then it will apply all these settings to other iPads.

    ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________

    "Did that message to supervise appear on the iPad or through Configurator? I am having the same issue: following these steps but end up with an unsupervised iPad that will not accept my Profile because it's unsupervised.

    On the iPad I was prompted to accept the Profile but, when I tried, it also gave me the "unsupervised" message."

     

    Message appears through AC. You haven't set it up properly.

    ________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________

     

    "Pizzy

    6) Take a backup of that iPad through Config2.

    7) This is where you would normally add this 'Restore from Backup' to the same blueprint, but no matter what, I kept ending up with unsupervised."


    Pizzy

    Select BLUEPRINT - EDIT BLUEPRINTS. Then right click on your blueprint (one with apps and profile), and select BACKUP. (this will backup your master ipad onto your blueprint).

    ________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________


    I think many of you are getting confused between (backup to blueprint) and normal backup.

    There is nothing to RESTORE! Once you backup your master iPad onto your blueprint, you just need to apply the same blueprint to other iPads.


    Cheers

  • by Pizzy,

    Pizzy Pizzy Nov 11, 2015 9:48 AM in response to wudinna.area.school
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Nov 11, 2015 9:48 AM in response to wudinna.area.school

    Hi Wudinna -

     

    Sorry, I didn't get an Apple message that there was feedback here.  Since my message Monday night, I have successfully cloned all these iPads with exactly the same layout as my master using my workflow. Works every time. I see ZoranP3's update, and I am intrigued to try the "backup" directly to the Blueprint. Didn't know about that option.

     

    Perhaps there is confusion over the issue many of us are having. For me, the issue is only that my iPads would get the Blueprint run on them, and it would not complete fully because the Devices were left in an unsupervised state after the restore from backup phase. The apps would install, but the profiles would not because they weren't supervised. I couldn't Supervise manually because they were already prepared.

     

    Another question for ZoranP3 then: I am trying to wrap my brain about what Backup does when applied to the Blueprint. Are you saying that the screen should look something like this:

    ac2.png

    (or does the Setup section remain blank)?  And isn't it just taking a backup of that iPad when done? How does that ensure it's supervised on completion?  

  • by MikeICT,

    MikeICT MikeICT Nov 11, 2015 11:17 AM in response to zoranp3
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 11, 2015 11:17 AM in response to zoranp3

    Thank you for this information. Correct me, if I'm not right, but does the restore work same way as in iTunes without allowing me to use setup assistant (link devices into MDM via DEP)?

  • by wudinna.area.school,

    wudinna.area.school wudinna.area.school Nov 11, 2015 3:51 PM in response to TrevorWWW
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2015 3:51 PM in response to TrevorWWW

    Cheers TrevWWW, your process is working for me.

     

    Using your workflow, I have boiled it down to two sequential blueprints.

     

    BluePrint1:

    - Restore iPad (wipe it)

    - Add apps 

    - Restore from master Backup

     

    BluePrint2:

    - Prepare device

    - Rename/Wallpaper

    - Add profile

     

    It's a pity one blueprint won't allow all those actions together but it seems that AC2 doesn't let you Restore and Prepare in the same blueprint.

  • by zoranp3,

    zoranp3 zoranp3 Nov 11, 2015 4:52 PM in response to wudinna.area.school
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2015 4:52 PM in response to wudinna.area.school

    "Pizzy

    Another question for ZoranP3 then: I am trying to wrap my brain about what Backup does when applied to the Blueprint. Are you saying that the screen

    should look something like this:"

     

    When you do the backup onto a blueprint, it will backup your iPad (as it is) eg. having folders created, changed icons, wallpaper, menu bar...

    Then you just need to apply that blueprint to other iPads, and it will restore, prepare and supervise your iPads in one go. When finished, all your ipads should look exactly the same as your first iPad. I do not have mac with me right now, but it looks very similar.

    ________________________________________________________________________________ __________

     

    MikeICT - when preparing an iPad, there is an option to check all boxes to for setup assistance, but doing this I don't see any purpose using AC at all.

    _________________________________________________________________

     

    wudinna.area.school

    It's a pity one blueprint won't allow all those actions together but it seems that AC2 doesn't let you Restore and Prepare in the same blueprint.

     

    I must disagree. I use only one blueprint to restore and prepare my iPads.

     

    Cheers

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