Apple Configurator (Mass deployment)

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Level 1

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Apple Configurator (Mass deployment)

We are using AC to deploy 300 iPads. Problem I am having is after I prepare/supervise them on one mac, I cannot use another mac to do anything with the ipads. I have the option selected "allow devices to connect to other Macs". For some reason we can only use one mac. When I connect an iPad to another mac I get "this iPad is supervised by another computer and cannot be used with this computer"

Any ideas what could be going wrong? Everything else has been working. There's no way we can allow only one mac to manage all these devices. If it breaks, gets lost or stolen, we are screwed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/CLovaR1/ScreenShot2014-02-13at100420AM_zp s17d6917f.png

iPad, iOS 7.0.4, Apple configurator

Posted on Feb 13, 2014 7:09 AM

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Answer 1

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Feb 13, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Gix1k

You better backup your mac faithfully.

There is a procedure for moving your backup to another mac computer.

I have the option selected "allow devices to connect to other Macs" This is for allowing the user to transfer pictures and video to their computer. It's not about supervision.

To administer from multiple computers. You need a commercial mdm.

MDM -- moble device management

MDMs

Airwatch, Meraki, MobileIron, OS X Server, or Zenprise

For a comparison see this page:

http://www.enterpriseios.com/wiki/Comparison_MDM_Providers

Airwatch

http://www.air-watch.com/

Meraki -- A free MDM [ expect lots of email and phone calls about upgrades ]

http://www.meraki.com/products/systems-manager/

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4067210?tstart=0

Good howto by Sergio Sosa.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2594001?start=15&tstart=0

MobileIron

http://www.mobileiron.com/

Profile Manager by Apple

Zenprise

http://www.zenprise.com/

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Answer 2

Gix1k Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 13, 2014 3:29 PM in response to rccharles

So help me understand....That option in the apple configurator is to allow the iPad to connect to different macs for photos, songs or transferring data, not the ability to use apple configuration on multiple macs to manage them? If that's the case, the Mac that deploys needs to be kept under lock and key to make sure it's always available.

Also, we use Good for Enterprise...who does our mdm have to do with the policy handed down by apple configurator? We aren't even connecting these iPads to that our mdm. Just applying a policy and handing out.

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Answer 3

Croxley

Level 1

5 points

Feb 14, 2014 8:00 AM in response to Gix1k

This is by design. Once an iPad is supervised in Apple Configurator on a Mac computer, its considered married to that computer and cannot connect to another computer unless it is unsupervised from the original Mac (divorce).

Apple likes to have full control of the licensed content for mass deployment via configurator.

To circumvent this problem we used a different MacBook for each cart. We have 5 Datamation Systems carts and each cart syncs and charges 40 iPads. We run the Apple Configurator separately for each set of 40 iPads and control each set using their assigned computer. The Datamation Systems carts have been a saving grace when it comes to managing and securing all of these iPads! Great value there as well. Good luck with your deployment.

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Answer 4

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Feb 14, 2014 11:29 AM in response to Gix1k

What I have read that some people do is to use Apple Configurator to do a minimal configuration that allows them to connect the iPad to their mdm. All the rest of the configuration is done by the mdm. You may have multiple policies. They are cumulative. Not sure how the policies interact. You will have to try this out.

fyi:

Activation lock

You do want to be the first to set the Activation lock. This way you can at least restore you iPad should it get locked out.

Find My iPad

"With iOS 7, Find My iPhone includes a new feature called Activation Lock, which is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if you ever lose it. It starts working the moment you turn on Find My iPhone in iOS 7."

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818

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Answer 5

Gix1k Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 14, 2014 12:31 PM in response to rccharles

Thanks for the posts, guys. We are going to wipe all the iPads, buy a dedicated Mac to manage them and go from there, since this isn't designed to work how we thought.

We lock these iPads to Safari with access to only three webpages. They are bascially registration terminals.

It's truly a shame that Apple only allows one managing PC. You all gave me some ideas though. Thanks!!!

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