Configurator 2, Meraki, & VPP Token - Can I do it Manually?

Appears to be some confusion. We're a school, not an individual. The wireless equipment is too slow, and it isn't cheap or easy to replace tens of thousands of dollars in equipment across the whole school campus.

We already have a Mac Mini server with OS X Server, but we use Meraki for MDM, not Profile Manger. Plus, as far as I know, caching service won't help in either case, as that is for Apple Software and not apps in general.

I finally figured it out. I had to add my App Store account as an approved user for VPP Facilitator account on the Meraki management server.

After doing that, all my VPP purchases auto-magically showed up. I was then able to download available purchaces using iTunes, then add them through Configurator 2. It didn't ask for an account name or password, which was the problem I was having.

It still doesn't work via Configurator 2 in terms of downloading apps. It fails at the Token acquisition phase, and I don't know why. However, if I download them via iTunes first, then add them through Configurator 2, it works.

Down side is that apps added via Configurator 2 don't show up under Meraki. I think I inadvertently found a way around a managed iPad and run un-approved apps in an MDM setting.

Oh well, it works for my purpose.

First, you log into the VPP store account using your VPP account. Purchase your licenses there (test with some free apps like Google, you don't want to waste any money.)

Now, if you have an MDM solution (such as Meraki, JAMF, or Profile Manager) you download your VPP token from that website, then associate it with your server. You can then add users that can utilize those licenses.

Now here's where it gets fuzzy for me. If you're not using an MDM, then I assume you'd use your VPP account as your main account. If you log into iTunes with your VPP account, then go the Store menu and do "Available Purchases," I believe it'll download whatever apps you've purchased with the VPP account. I could not find anywhere in the VPP Store settings to add users.

Now with Configurator 2, you can Add new apps, then click On My Mac button, then select the apps you downloaded with your iTunes account. The apps are located in your ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes\ Media/Mobile\ Applications

This should copy the apps you downloaded via iTunes to the iPad. Your iPad will need to use the VPP account as its main account also. However, using your VPP account as your main account doesn't seem right to me. It used to be that you'd get code vouchers, but they don't do it that way anymore. But please, be careful. I could not find a single shred of documentation online that explained any of this, which is why I posted here, and I ended up stumbling my way through. Your best option is to find out who your Apple Representative is, and set up a meeting with him or her.

So if you're NOT using an MDM, what you can try is this:

In Configurator 2, sign in to the Store using your normal account (not the VPP.) Add an App to your iPad. It'll prompt you for your iTunes account, use your regular one. Next, it'll prompt you again, but this time for the Token, and type in the VPP account. If I read the dialog box correctly, this will associate your VPP account with Configurator 2. I do not know if this is a permanent association, or if it can be changed just by uploading your VPP token to a different server (such as if you decided to use OS X Server & Profile Manger instead.)