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schoolofluck Author

Level 1

21 points

configurator tool broken - summary of bugs

Most schools are hurting because configurator 1.4 is mostly broken.(Sept 2013)

Here is what helps, take action

=====================================

reply to this thread with new bugs and documentation
call enterprise support create a case ID # (866) 752-7753
review the list of bugs on this thread
give the Apple CEO feedback URL http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Known bugs in version 1.4 of configurator

====================================

1) Setup screens keep reappearing & Wifi fails on ipad after using configurator to make any change to ipad. Possible workaround is to disconntect from USB and slide to power off.

2) Volume App codes being lost. Paid apps changed to free apps. No known workaround. Not fully verified.

3) Check in & check out fails -

4) IT staff can't lockout iOS updates, but can lockout App updates. - This renders Configurator 1.3 and 1.21 dead. Configurator v1.21 and 1.3 do not support iOS7, and most schools have had iOS7 installed because it arrives at the whim of any one student or ipad user.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5342764?tstart=0

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5337506?tstart=30

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5330826?tstart=60

iPad 2, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Sep 27, 2013 10:28 AM

Top-ranking reply

AndyBeaver

Level 1

15 points

Posted on Sep 27, 2013 6:18 PM

I have a few work arounds.

2) Remove the apps from AC by selecting the app and clicking the "-" button. Then re-add the apps. In testing i have seen this occur when apps are updated through itunes and imported back into AC.

4) We were able to prevent our students from installing iOS 7 by blocking through DNS and our web filter this address. ( A little late now but...)

http://mesu.apple.com/assets/com_apple_MobileAsset_SoftwareUpdate/com_apple_Mobi leAsset_SoftwareUpdate.xml

hope this helps, its been a rough week for us all!

View in context

40 replies

MCL_Kids

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2013 3:32 PM in response to MCL_Kids

So I called Apple OSX Support and the solution they gave me was to manually complete the iPad device initialization setup. Sure enough, it appears that at least some part of the master backup was applied to the device, as evidenced by Restrictions being turned on and two configuration profiles being applied. I was instructed to proceed to Supervise in AC. I tried this but now AC supervise mode is failing to install apps - each app generates a "unable to install <app name>" error.

Oct 3, 2013 7:50 AM in response to schoolofluck

Am getting the ubiquitous "could not restore backup" error when trying to check out an ios7 iPad to a student.

Have tried every trick I know - restart Configurator, change the plugin order, manually take the ipad past the signup screens to the home screens, restart the Configurator machine......

no luck.

This insonsistant operation in processes and very UN-apple-like. If managing iPads is going to be this insonsistant we might as well move the school back to Windows........

Mary_OLV

Level 1

0 points

Oct 3, 2013 8:11 AM in response to tech-itunes-MDS

Me too! I don't even want to plug the ipads back in the cart! I was planning on buying another set of ipads and a cart. I'm rethinking.....

schoolofluck Author

Level 1

21 points

Oct 3, 2013 10:06 AM in response to MCL_Kids

Dear MCLKids,

Please get Apple to issue a tech support case ID for each of your problems. You've got multiple issues.

One bug you mentioned is the conflict between the 12 codes and 11 codes. This bug may be related to skipping one of the complex steps in acquisition of that paid app. You can still fix the bug by re-attempting the steps. I suggest calling apple and having their staff walk you through KB 5188 . Call (866) 752-7753

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5188

here is the quote:

"If you do not already have a copy of the app on your computer, use the first redemption code in your spreadsheet to purchase it in iTunes. After using this code, re-download the spreadsheet and import it into Apple Configurator again."

This bug, like many, is because configurator is buggy in Sept/Oct 2013. Bugs and complexity are now blending into quite a mess. That mixture has hobbled windows. While the ipad remains simple, managing a cart is complex, and now suddenly very buggy.

It may also help reading a document I've written that combines and logically sequences many apple knowledge base articles on configurator.

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

schoolofluck Author

Level 1

21 points

Oct 3, 2013 10:35 AM in response to schoolofluck

Our school is now blocking iOS7 by blocking Apple's ios7 update.

We use opendns to block everything from apple's subdomain. mesu.apple.com

Does your school have OPEN DNS?

If yes, please hit the button "me too"

https://support.opendns.com/entries/22376794-Block-a-URL-with-OPENDNS

We would like to block just ios7 and not an entire domain or subdomain

Oct 3, 2013 10:39 AM in response to tech-itunes-MDS

4 hours later and several experiments.....

Issue was once again related to the "Find my ipad" bug [or is a feature?]

I setup one iPad as desired and then created a backup to push out to all the other iPads [I'm recovering from a disastrous setup last year and am basically starting over.... looong story there].

In a patented Homer Simpson moment I had already setup the student's iCloud account on that machine before creating teh backup - which then got replicated to the other ipads. Thus the "whine whine I can't check this iPad out whine whine" error from Configurator.

On the 6 that I'd done I had to manually delete the iCloud settings.... and then could check them out.

THEN recreated the master backup.

Now if I could figure out why some are refusing to connect to Donfiguraotr at all, even though tehy've been recovered........

MetaCert

Level 1

0 points

Oct 3, 2013 11:13 AM in response to schoolofluck

Teachers worried about Internet Safety for kids can download our free Safe iPad browser. It's feature-rich and has multiple settings for filtering.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/metacert-safe-browser-parental/id556938946?mt=8

Oct 3, 2013 5:37 PM in response to Dan Autiero

Not sure if you're still looking but I do have AC 1.2.1 and 1.3. I just wish I could find a way to supervise our devices without being forced to upgrade. I was in the middle of a cart when iOS 7 hit.

tphy

Level 1

0 points

Oct 4, 2013 6:05 AM in response to Stryker412

I would like to get the AC 1.3, if you could put it on an FTP server. I stupidly upgraded mine to 1.4, and I am miserable. If you can accomodate, thanks. If not, I understand.

tphy@avingerisd.net

Oct 4, 2013 4:54 PM in response to tphy

I can send it when I get back to work on Monday.

rccharles

Level 6

12,969 points

Oct 5, 2013 9:13 AM in response to schoolofluck

Who knows what the status might be today.

AndyBeaver writes:

We were able to prevent our students from installing iOS 7 by blocking through DNS and our web filter this address.
http://mesu.apple.com/assets/com_apple_MobileAsset_SoftwareUpdate/com_apple_Mobi leAsset_SoftwareUpdate.xml

AndyBeaver's post:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5379636?tstart=0

Oct 7, 2013 12:30 PM in response to schoolofluck

I'd like to add a bug.

It seems that if you enable the restrictions to web sites, enforcing the restriction so that Adult websites are not viewable, it basically blocks random sites.

google.com, yahoo.com, and even our enterprise's website was blocked.

I tried a test iPad and ONLY turned on that one restriction to "Limit Adult Content". The problem persists. Perfectly friendly websites are being blocked.

keng1

Level 1

0 points

Oct 7, 2013 1:30 PM in response to SPH_Heart

I had the same problem as SPH_Heart. I couldn't find any info on how sites were blocked for iPads, but I did find info relating to filtering for macs that stated that sites that have very little text were blocked. This seems to be what was causing the sites that I ran across to be incorrectly blocked.

SPH_Heart wrote:

I'd like to add a bug.

It seems that if you enable the restrictions to web sites, enforcing the restriction so that Adult websites are not viewable, it basically blocks random sites.

google.com, yahoo.com, and even our enterprise's website was blocked.

I tried a test iPad and ONLY turned on that one restriction to "Limit Adult Content". The problem persists. Perfectly friendly websites are being blocked.

Oct 8, 2013 1:27 AM in response to tphy

I have actually found that version 1.3.1 has started to play up as well. I tried to update an app on a few iPads this morning that were not supervised. Everytime AC crashed with unexpected error. It did this everytime I changed IOS version to no change. So in short it wanted to update my devices or else wouldn't let me use them.

I used another machine on which I have installed version 1.2.1 and I didn't have any issues. I would recommend this version over any other if you can get your hands on it, as it seems to be the least buggy.

I'm afraid I can't help you with this version however as it's a work computer.

Oct 8, 2013 5:55 AM in response to schoolofluck

There may be a solution to the MDM profiles getting removed... I spoke with Enterprise Support and they suggested I make a profile with just my wifi payload in it. Full details here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5392008?answerId=23330407022#23330407022

configurator tool broken - summary of bugs