Apple Configurator, Casper and iPads

Hi,

I'm using Mac OS X 10.7.4 with Apple Configurator 1.1.2 and Casper 8.6 and thought I'd let you know how I'm doing it.

I start with one new iPad. I use Apple Configurator and Supervise it. I then run through the setup screens on the iPad adding WiFi, etc. Once I get to the Home Screen, I arrange icons, set up Safari bookmarks, enable the restriction to prevent removing apps, and set up the wallpaper. I then create a "Supervised" backup.

When the "master" iPad backup is complete, I unplug the "master" iPad and plug in other new iPads. On the Prepare tab, I give the iPads a name and place a checkmark to number then sequentially. I turn Supervision on. Next to the Restore tab, I select the backup that I made of the "master" iPad. I then click Prepare.

After all are Prepared, I see these iPads under the Supervise tab. I select the various Configuration Profiles (including the Casper Provisioning Profile) as well as the apps that I want to install on the iPads. I click Refresh and they all get updated.

I have had problems in the past where I was trying to install the WiFi profile as a Configuration Profile at the same time as the Casper Provisioning Profile. This resulted in an error. To get around it, I did the WiFi profile all by itself (no other profiles or apps). When that was complete, I added other profiles (including the provisioning profile) and apps and clicked "Refresh." It worked fine.

I have never had to unsupervise and re-supervise to add more apps. I can simply check or uncheck the apps on the Apps tab to install or remove apps from the iPads.

I recall having the issue before where some iPads displayed "Done" in a few seconds (which I knew wasn't right). I couldn't find a "fix" for these other than manually resetting and trying again (which worked). So you might want to try that on the problem iPads.

I also recall a weird glitch in an earlier version of Apple Configurator where it seemed that it would install the configuration profiles in the order that I check marked the boxes. I don't know if that is still happening, but out of habit I find myself check marking the boxes in the order that I would want them installed.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!
~Joe

UPDATE TO MY PREVIOUS POST: We just recently updated to Casper 8.6. I realized that I hadn't tried enrolling with a Provisioning Profile since the update. I just tried enrolling an iPad with Apple Configurator and it failed with the error, "Can't install profile." This never happened when we were using v8.52. I wonder if something changed during the update...

All the other Configuration Profiles and Apps install just fine, but the Enrollment Profile fails. I tried creating a new enrollment profile and downloaded it from the JSS but it fails too.

Enrolling via the website works fine.

I just sent an email to JAMF support to see if they are aware of any enrollment issues with Casper 8.6 and installing Enrollment Profiles via Apple Configurator (or if there are issues when updating from 8.52 to 8.6). I'll post when I get a response.

~Joe

Resolved: Not sure what the deal was but its working now.

I cleared 6 of my test iPads via Settings - General - Reset - Erase All Content and Settings, and created a new iPad Supervised backup from a new iPad and it all worked.

I think my test iPads were having a problem making a good WiFi connection. The Enrollment Profile was probably failing because the WiFi connection hadn't been established.

As mentioned in my earlier post, to get around this I first do the WiFi profile all by itself (no other profiles or apps). When that is complete, wait a minute. Then I add other profiles (including the provisioning profile) and apps and click "Refresh."

Success :)

Configurator is finicky. Sometimes it works great, and other times it's difficult. I would create several profiles, each of which does one thing. Make a wifi profile, a casper profile, a restrictions profile, etc. Apply them one at a time and find out if certain settings are causing your problems. If they are, install them after preparing the ipads.

You can add/remove apps or profiles without unsupervising. Go to the supervise tab and select the ipad(s) you want. Make any changes in the panel on the right, then click apply.

I too am having problems trying to install a Casper(8.6) profile with configurator(1.1.2). I have a cart of 30 and 28 of them worked fine using the same process mentioned above. Setup one ipad, make a supervised backup and then setup the others installing the backup, apps and wireless profile. I then go to the supervised tab and install the Casper profile. Two of them come up with "Can't install profile" I have reset several times, connected directly to the computer with a single USB cable and still cannot get either one to install.