Distribute Apps in Profile Manager

Question

Distribute Apps in Profile Manager

Updated to Lion Server OS X 10.7.2 on my MacMini (4GB RAM).

Setup a Device Group to Distribute an App as a test. Sent out both a commercial app (Keynote) and a free app (FirstClass Mobile).

The iPads received the apps, but neither worked. On the iPad, when I attempted to launch the app, the screen would flash and nothing would happen.

So is this new feature a 'tease' which doesn't work, or how do you get this to work?

iPad 2, iOS 5

Posted on Oct 18, 2011 5:27 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 6, 2011 6:44 PM in response to Bryan Vondeylen

how did you upload your apps. I am using the volume purchase program which provides a license key with each app. i downloaded the spreadsheet from the VPP store and tried to upload it under the apps tab in profile manager but is just said file type not supported - I can't find anything that says what file type is supported and what the format of the data should be.

In your case, did you just create a text file and type in the names of the apps?

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Answer 2

Nov 7, 2011 11:17 AM in response to andyknaebel

I found in the documenation that the apps push only works for internally devleoped applications not apps from the market.

"

You can install and remove in-house iOS apps on managed devices.

In Profile Manager's Library, select a device or user, or a group.
Select the user, device, or group you want to modify from the list.
Click the Action (gear) button, then choose Edit Apps from the pop-up menu.

You can:

Upload an app to Profile Manager:	Click upload, then choose an .ipa file. You must select an app archive that has been created for enterprise distribution.Uploading the app to Profile Manager makes it available for you to add to other users, devices, and groups.
Send an app to a device:	Click the Add button next to an app. Make sure that the app's provisioning profile authorizes the device to use the app, or the app will not install.
Remove an app from a device:	Click the Remove button next to an app. The app and all of its data will be removed from the device. You can only remove apps you've previously added to the device using Profile Manager."
http://help.apple.com/profilemanager/mac/10.7/#apd65A815A6-4863-4F24-9B0F-313DD0 850FC8

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2012 7:47 AM in response to Bryan Vondeylen

Figured it out, but it is 'undocumented' and not supported.

Here is the process to install paid apps OTA (over the air).

On the server, sign in on iTunes with a generic iTunes account
Download any app (I use Find my iPhone)
Manually sync this app to all your iOS devices using configurator on the server.
From this point on, you can download any paid app on the server using that generic iTunes account and push it out to all iOS devices OTA
The original app that was manually sync'd must remain on the iOS devices, otherwise, the iOS devices will ask for the generic iTunes account password
Depending upon the app size, and the number of iOS devices, installing apps in this way can take a long time (eg it takes about 30 minutes to install Pages to 30 iPads OTA).

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Answer 4

iToaster

Level 3

739 points

Nov 10, 2012 1:34 PM in response to Bryan Vondeylen

You do get problems if users have their own itunes account sync their iOS device with iTunes

What I think happens is iTunes sees the apps it hasn't authorised and disables them

To rectify this situation delete a pushed app and download it again from the App Store

Using the same account associated with the pushed apps. Pushing the app out again does not fix the issue

Only deleting and installing again from the App Store works

As long as users only update or install apps via the App Store everything is ok

I think the same thing can happen over time the apps may have a time limit on the app/device authorisation

If the account sees no activity

As you pointed out this is unsupported and could be removed at anytime

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