Meraki Systems Manager vs Apple Configurator?

A cloud based MDM,including Meraki, should not be viewed as alternatives to Configurator but looked at as complimentary - use both. Prepare and/ or supervise the devices with Configurator ( you can install the MDM profile when preparing) and use the MDM for the those devices that need to be managed "hands off" from afar. For labs and set ups where the devices are on hand and can easily be reattached to a cart or a mac, Configurator may be all that is needed. If you have a 1 to 1 deployment with many devices going out to mobile users it makes sense to use Configurator for initial set up and subsequent management through an MDM such as Meraki.

Thanks for this suggestion. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. So far I've used Configurator to set up the wifi and install apps. The iPads were setup as supervised when I did this. Do I have to unsupervised them to install the meraki profile or do I leave them supervised. I appreciate any assistance you can give.

Hi Edtech2012,

You can download a provisioning profile from Meraki (it will be a .mobileconfig file), and add that to your Profiles list in Apple Configurator. You don't need to unsupervise them to install the Meraki profile. Just click the "+" sign under Supervise - Settings - Profiles. Choose Import Profile and navigate to Meraki's .mobileconfig file that you downloaded. Then add that profile to your list of supervised devices. You'll then see them listed in your Meraki Systems Manager.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!

~Joe

What is it that Meraki can't do that one needs Apple Configurator for? I'm just starting out, so I'm a bit confused.

/Filip

MDMs like apples profile manager and meraki allows you to push changes out to devices, deploy apps without them having to be touched

Apple Configurator requires each device to be returned and handled in some way

As gyrhead posted, the best use is combination of apple Configurator and a MDM solution

The combination makes deployment easier and faster. They complement each other

Thanks for your time! Although my question is what makes the combination the preferable way to go? We handed out a hundred iPad minis without using either. I just signed up for Meraki and will connect my hundred students starting Monday. The reason for me asking about the combo (Configurator+Meraki) is because I wonder if I'm missing something essential going Meraki only.

Thanks

/Filip

And how long did that take you

Using Apple Configurator for the initial configuration is faster than having to do everything manually

It's not essential it just makes it easier, faster and less mind numbing

use Apple Configurator to to a basic config, wireless, MDM enrol

Use the MDM for user, group, device config, deploy apps etc

Once your setup it's way faster

I use a provisioning wireless to get the devices on the network

The provisioning wireless is deployed via apple Configurator along with MDM enrolment

The MDM pushes out the wireless the user should be on along with email VPN apps etc

experiment and see what works best for you in your situation

Try it for yourself Apple Configurator is free

It's a different story again if your enrolled in DEP :)

Thanks again!

Well, it was really not time consuming since we just handed out all the units and had the students connect to the wi-fi manually. And they are allowed to use their private apple-IDs as well, so there was no need to set that up.

I'll play around with configurator like you said, to get a hang of what it can do for us. We're handing out 20ish new units next semester, so that's a great opportunity to try it out from the start.

I'm working in Sweden, I don't even think there is a DEP available here. =)

For anyone who reads to learn: I just learned that in order to push "iOS supervised restrictions" such as single app mode etc, the device needs to be set to "supervised" with Apple Configurator.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone ( Gyrhead etc ) who has contributed to this thread.

Has anyone written a howto guide for Meraki or another MDM used in tandem with Configurator?

We are on year 2 of configurator. We may now add another MDM tool.

We also share the WAN load concerns. We do not want to drag our internet connection to a absolute crawl. LOL. They called it Skynet for a reason. Due to our rual location our WAN speed is highly limited. Using a combination of registry hacks and router tricks we force ios and windows7 and other tools to update only after 4pm.

FYI. I've written a howto guide for starting out cold on Configurator. See below. Cheers, J

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SMBgyzONxcx6_FswgkW9XYLpA4oCt_2y1uw9ceMZ9F4/ edit?usp=sharing

Short URL below, same link

http://goo.gl/ciP8ht

If you have an Apple Caching server your WAN load will be dramatically reduced. The server caches IOS Updates, Apple TV, Apps, Books, etc. so that the next download from a device pulls locally so it is much faster. Very easy to set up and requires only a Mac Mini Server with Maverick and Server App installed.

"Sine we just handed out all the units and had the students connect to the wifi manually"

Hmm I'd be careful doing that, if your not managing the devices in some way and the devices are owned by your intuition. If one or more of your students

decides to set iCloud up and find my iPhone for themselves. You could find yourself locked out of the device and having to prove to Apple your institution really does own it.

Changes to iOS 7 locks the device to the iTunes account used in iCloud setup ...no password no go

Just to make sure I'm clear -

• Use Configurator for the initial deployment and system setup.
• Use Meraki for tracking, app installations, etc.

Right?

But where does deploy.apple.com fit into this scenario?

As long as you are allowing access to the App Store you skip configurator and use Dep and Cisco-Meraki.