iPad Management Platforms
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Out of curiosity for those of you who have used an MDM solution...
If you were sending out iPads to be used as kiosks, would you set them all up with the same AppleID since you are using MDM?
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Been playing with the Meraki offering this morning. Pretty nice.
I have a feeling very few things have exactly what I am looking for.
TeamViewer has the iPad user required to take a screenshot.
Would be nice if Apple allowed remote control.
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I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
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@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
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@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
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@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
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@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
I meant for the configurator.
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@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
Never really looked at the Minis. Interesting.
Surprising they don't offer SSD. Though looks like you can DIY.
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@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
Never really looked at the Minis. Interesting.
Surprising they don't offer SSD. Though looks like you can DIY.
Not much call for high performance in a Mini. Macs are not that high performance normally, and the Mini is definitely not the HP member of the lineup.
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@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
Never really looked at the Minis. Interesting.
Surprising they don't offer SSD. Though looks like you can DIY.
Not much call for high performance in a Mini. Macs are not that high performance normally, and the Mini is definitely not the HP member of the lineup.
So it's more for people who just need a Mac for like testing or configuring iPads?
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So, it took me quite a few hours today, but holy cow is the Meraki MDM platform (along a slew of special stuff from Apple) powerful.
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@BRRABill I was using it at my old company. The issue for me at the time was the price. It was a non-profit though. If companies can justify slack, they can justify Meraki MDM.
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@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
Never really looked at the Minis. Interesting.
Surprising they don't offer SSD. Though looks like you can DIY.
Not that you need it, but yeah they do. The highest tier starts at $999 and comes with a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 , up to 1 TB SSD and 8GB RAM. That being said, it is overkill. You would be more than fine using the $499 model, and whatever monitor you have laying around.
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@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
Never really looked at the Minis. Interesting.
Surprising they don't offer SSD. Though looks like you can DIY.
Not that you need it, but yeah they do. The highest tier starts at $999 and comes with a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 , up to 1 TB SSD and 8GB RAM. That being said, it is overkill. You would be more than fine using the $499 model, and whatever monitor you have laying around.
I have an old Mac around the house (like 2011 old) and threw a SSD in it, and the thing is blazing.
We continue to look at Meraki and a few others. We only have a handful of devices, and if it swells past 100, then that will be a good problem and we'll deal with it then.
I am also looking at SimpleMDM, who has been very good with support so far, which (to me) is something it appears Meraki is lacking. But for free, you can't complain. (Simple MDM is $2 per device per month.)
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@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@scottalanmiller said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said in iPad Management Platforms:
I have about 65 in service. I use Apple Configurator and Apple Server Profile Manager to control mine. Works like a charm, and $19.99 for server is a pretty good deal if you already have an Apple computer laying around.
Yeah, having no Apple around kind of prices that solution out for me.
Though maybe it is time to request a MacBoook!
You don't want a Macbook for this. The server has to be for the iPads to check in with. Get a Mac Mini.
Definitely a Mini.
Never really looked at the Minis. Interesting.
Surprising they don't offer SSD. Though looks like you can DIY.
Not that you need it, but yeah they do. The highest tier starts at $999 and comes with a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 , up to 1 TB SSD and 8GB RAM. That being said, it is overkill. You would be more than fine using the $499 model, and whatever monitor you have laying around.
I have an old Mac around the house (like 2011 old) and threw a SSD in it, and the thing is blazing.
We continue to look at Meraki and a few others. We only have a handful of devices, and if it swells past 100, then that will be a good problem and we'll deal with it then.
I am also looking at SimpleMDM, who has been very good with support so far, which (to me) is something it appears Meraki is lacking. But for free, you can't complain. (Simple MDM is $2 per device per month.)
What features are you looking for that Profile Manager can not do?
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@s.hackleman said
What features are you looking for that Profile Manager can not do?
I haven't looked at Profile Manager.
I do not have access to an Apple products, and considering the small implementation I am currently looking at, just can't justify the cost.
Though, down the road, definitely a possibility.
Feature wise? I really wish there was some sort of "remote desktop" like product. So I could log in and take a look at stuff.
But that seems to be a limitation/security feature on Apple's end, not a failing of any of these products.
Basically, I am looking to send an iPad to a site, and have it be turned on, have them connect it to wifi, and only have it run a survey.
I've gotten the setup taken care of. It's awesome I don't need to set up a bunch of AppleIDs on these things. I signed up for VPP and it's been working great.
I can also lock the device to 1-app, but I haven't figured out how to lock that app down yet. I know you can use guided access, but I'm not sure the two things work together.
I am way at the beginning of this, so I'll post more as I find it out.
If you have any thoughts or want to share what you are doing, I'd be happy to hear it.
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@BRRABill said in iPad Management Platforms:
@s.hackleman said
What features are you looking for that Profile Manager can not do?
I haven't looked at Profile Manager.
I do not have access to an Apple products, and considering the small implementation I am currently looking at, just can't justify the cost.
Though, down the road, definitely a possibility.
Feature wise? I really wish there was some sort of "remote desktop" like product. So I could log in and take a look at stuff.
But that seems to be a limitation/security feature on Apple's end, not a failing of any of these products.
Basically, I am looking to send an iPad to a site, and have it be turned on, have them connect it to wifi, and only have it run a survey.
I've gotten the setup taken care of. It's awesome I don't need to set up a bunch of AppleIDs on these things. I signed up for VPP and it's been working great.
I can also lock the device to 1-app, but I haven't figured out how to lock that app down yet. I know you can use guided access, but I'm not sure the two things work together.
I am way at the beginning of this, so I'll post more as I find it out.
If you have any thoughts or want to share what you are doing, I'd be happy to hear it.
Yup, I have 65 devices exactly like this, sent out all over the country. I know exactly what you are going through. Your best bet is to just figure it out. You really need to be familiar with it before you send them to remote offices. You are going down the right road, just keep going. If you get stuck, or have any specific questions tag me or shoot me a message.
As far as what I am doing we developed an internal ad-hoc application for our users to preform tasks, and sign off. They then upload the results back to a database. We had to fight the political battle between people wanting to use the iPads for more than just our app, and locking them down enough that they would still work in a shared device environment. We have a Mac Pro that I setup the devices using Apple Configurator. That gets me wifi, and I add a policy that joins them to Profile Manager. Once there it is like Active Directory. I can assign users, groups, devices. I can lock security settings, add applications, control app updates, etc. Once they go out to the world, they communicate back to my server here. This computer also hosts a website that acts like a internal app store to host the installers for our in house apps. Nothing we work on is available in the Apple app store.
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@s.hackleman said
Yup, I have 65 devices exactly like this, sent out all over the country. I know exactly what you are going through. Your best bet is to just figure it out. You really need to be familiar with it before you send them to remote offices. You are going down the right road, just keep going. If you get stuck, or have any specific questions tag me or shoot me a message.
As far as what I am doing we developed an internal ad-hoc application for our users to preform tasks, and sign off. They then upload the results back to a database. We had to fight the political battle between people wanting to use the iPads for more than just our app, and locking them down enough that they would still work in a shared device environment. We have a Mac Pro that I setup the devices using Apple Configurator. That gets me wifi, and I add a policy that joins them to Profile Manager. Once there it is like Active Directory. I can assign users, groups, devices. I can lock security settings, add applications, control app updates, etc. Once they go out to the world, they communicate back to my server here. This computer also hosts a website that acts like a internal app store to host the installers for our in house apps. Nothing we work on is available in the Apple app store.
Do you ever have a need to lock parts of the screen down like you can do in Guided Access? Though I'm still not 100% sure I can't use Guided Access along WITH this scenario.
Also, can you change app setting over-the-air?
