iBooks and jamf

[emadams]

I have an instructor that has created his own textbooks using iBook Author. He would like to push the textbook to the 75 iPads that his students will begin using as their eTextbook. I need to know what the best process is to get the textbook he created through jamf and onto the iPads in iBooks.

[emadams]

Okay, I have tried a few things since posting this. First of all, I am not publishing the iBook, it has to be distributed in-house. I have attempted to host the file on my google drive and in a folder on a local share drive. I can get a pdf to push to the Books app using the google drive method but it will not push the iBook file with either method. It keeps getting stuck on pending and will eventually say delayed if I use the google drive link and will just fail right out of the gate if I use the local share drive URL. The iBook file is only 2.9MB in size so I don't think it's a file size issue. I really need to get this figured out quickly. I have a teacher needing to begin using these new text books he has created ASAP.

[techjason]

If the iPads are in jamf then this is very easy.

If you go into the Devices subgroup of jamf, you will eBooks. When you click on that, you can create an In-house eBook. Then all you need to do is upload the file (.epub, .books, or PDF). This can be available for mobile devices or for computers; however, with mobile devices, you can have them automatically install, instead of just appearing in Self-Service.

[CSCC-JS]

FYI - You can't upload an ebook to a jamf cloud distribution point, unless the cloud distribution point is "primary" distribution point.

We have to "hide" the file on our web site, that in theory anyone with the link could access it, and point the ebook the http://www..path

[cdenesha]

@techjason I don't see a way to upload an in-house eBook to the primary file share DP (not JCDS in this case). All I see is 'EBOOK URL'.

@emadams Could you post a screenshot of your eBook settings using the Shared Drive method? I've had delayed installs when I had large books and lot of install attempts at once..

[techjason]

@cdenesha I see what you mean.

From Jamf Pro Administrator's Guide Distribution points—This hosting location is only available if your master distribution point is the cloud distribution point. To use this hosting location, you upload the book to the master distribution point when configuring settings for the book in Jamf Pro. Note: Books cannot be replicated to file share distribution points.

We us JCDS here so that is why it appears for us.

[emadams]

Here are my settings. I don't have the upload eBook File button. As I have mentioned before, I have tried with the google drive option and an internal share drive option. Neither one seems to work. The files size isn't even 3MB so that shouldn't be the issue.

[cdenesha]

@emadams I think we have a couple of issues going on.

When I open up your iBook link in a computer browser it is a share, with the option to Download the iBook. This is probably confusing to the delivery of the iBook. When you say "folder on a local share drive" I'm not sure how you are setting this up, but you need an http link. Is it a web server?

I downloaded your iBook and put it on our web server, and am unable to get it to Install Automatically - the command just sits in Pending. When I change to Self Service it installs immediately.

I would create a ticket with Jamf and see if they can get the Install Automatically working. Also use the web server option..

[cdenesha]

Quick update, my Automatic book installing is now working and I didn't change anything.