Apple Configurator - Pros and Cons

I recently used Apple Configurator to deploy 100 iPad's. I'll still use Casper to manage them, but the configurator made deployment a breeze.

Basically, it allowed me to create a golden master iPad via Backup, then once I hit "start", any iPad I plugged into that system, was auto-activated, auto-restored, and auto-renamed to the name of my choice. It allowed for an incremental suffix so each iPad had a unique name, ex. iPad-001, iPad-002, etc...

I really think hours were saved by using the Apple Configurator to do the initial deployment.

Thanks for that quick rundown. That's really good information. Mass setup/deployment was one of the pieces that was missing, or at least difficult to do early on with iOS management, Glad to see Apple is recognizing the need here.

Isn't the downside of the Configurator tool you are burning through app codes for each device tied to the database of the configurator (no longer if for some reason your database dies, can you reload the apps via the purchased iTunes account)

What happens if the Configurator database is backed up correctly, but an iPad breaks, and Apple sends a new one in replacement, do you need new codes for the apps on it, or can you somehow transfer the app purchases from the broken iPad to the new one?

@CasperSally I was thinking the same thing, as we have a Wintel guy testing this. Does Configurator support storing the database on a server? Does Configurator call home so the Redemption Code info is stored at Apple? I emailed our Apple SE to find out.

The Assign function is really nice. User 1 "checks-out" iPad A and adds apps, pics etc...
User 1 then "checks-in" iPad A back to the sync station (running Configurator)
All of User 1's apps and files are backed-up, the device is wiped to default and your "base image" settings are put back on.
User 2 then can check-out iPad A without worrying about User 1's stuff. (like they do anyways!)
User 1 then can checkout iPad B. Configurator restores the backup and she now has all her apps and data ready to go!

Ultimately, Configurator replaces iPCU. It does not help with Inventory and any remote functions. Casper is for that.

Hi guys,
I read the Apple Configurator Help and remembered somewhere mentioned: If the iPads are created by the Configurator, then those iPads are tie to the computer which runs the Configurator. You have to always go back to the same computer to make configuration changes.
Correct me if I am wrong please.

Leo: A good resource to better understand how Configurator and JAMF Software MDM can work well together can be found in this white paper: http://jamfsoftware.com/libraries/pdf/white_papers/One-to-One-Deployment-of-iOS-Devices-with-the-Casper-Suite-and-Apple-Configurator.pdf Don't let the 'One-to-One' in the title fool you - the white paper has great information for both business and education application.

Don - regarding keeping the Configurator DB on a server somewhere, it does not look possible yet. You can find the DB down in ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.configurator The DB is named AppleConfigurator.storedata

We (JAMF Dev Team) are very interested to hear how everyone is making use of configurator, especially your workflows and what you'd like to achieve so we can have Casper Suite work more closely with Configurator.

And - be sure you do backup your Configurator directory. It CAN be restored to a different Mac should it become necessary. Have a look a this KB from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5194

Thanks!

John

I need confirmation on using Apple Configurator and an iMac Sync Station. I'm finding that if an iPad is Supervised with configurator it doesn't allow the device to be connected to another computer. iTunes and iPhoto will reject it.

In addition, it appears that we can't copy photos from the iPad to a computer OTHER than the sync station. I see this in an Apple Discussion, can anyone else confirm? This limitation is understandable, but makes it hard to use iPod touches and iPads as "digital cameras" in a teacher's classroom to take and collect photos.

Hi Nathaniel,

I haven't been able to copy photos from a Supervised iPad to non sync computers via USB. But have you tried using Dropbox OTA to copy photos? https://www.dropbox.com/help/84/en

~Joe