EasyPush: Uploading Multiple iOS Devices (Using CMS Import)

As I'm sure you can imagine in any corporate environment where the decision has been made to deploy iPads (and/or iPhones) keeping track of them can be a real problem. Luckily we have MobileIron which allows us to export details of all the iPads in a territory but how do we go about getting that information into EasyPush? Sure you could entered them individually but that could take weeks or months. Much better to do a batch upload.

This functionality is burried with the "Developer" section of EasyPush (look at the bottom left of the screen);

EasyPush: Sections

 Clicking on the "Developer" section changes the Navigator view to give you the Developer options;

EasyPush: Developer Section

It is the bottom option you're after, CMS Import, you need to expand this and then click on the "Import Data" node which is directly beneath it. The main part of the screen now displays the Import Data Wizard;

EasyPush: Import Wizard Intro

Click "Next" to continue;

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Select Datasource Type

By far the easiest way to get your data in (and the one I'll be dealing with here) is Excel. As I'm importing iPads I've selected "Member" as the import data type.

Click "Next";

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Select Datasource

Now you need to pick the Excel datafile you wish to import. This can either be a remote file on your machine or a file on a remote server.

Click "Next";

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Select a worksheet

 Now you are presented with a drop down list of the worksheets within the Excel file. You can only import data from a single worksheet, select it here and then click "Next";

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Select member type and roles

On this page you can select the type of member and the roles you wish to assign to them. As you can see all the members in the file get the same roles so if you are looking for finer granularity than that split the file up into different files each for a different set of roles - this is what I did and it meant I had to run through this process a few times but that was still a lot easier than going back through the iPads after they've been loaded and resetting the permissions then!

As the UUID is the key if the member already exists I have selected to Udpate the record. I'm not auto generating the password and as my file doesn't contain emails I'm not sending credentials.

Click "Next";

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Create Mapping

Now you need to map the column headings in Excel to their corresponding fields in EasyPush. UDID was done by default, the others I had to pick. When you're done click "Next";

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Confirm

You are now presented with a summary of the options you've selected. Click "Next" when you're happy they're correct;

EasyPush: Import Wizard > Import Finished

This summary shows you the number of records insert and the errors. The records have now been successfully created in the system.

iOS: Updating An Application Using Apps@Work (via MobileIron)

When MobileIron installs an applicaiton on a users device it is outside of Apple's usual "Update" process and so the application does not get updated (and the user does not get notified) when a new version is released.

Fortunately MobileIron allows you to send messages to users devices using Apple's Notification Center. These messages can be used to inform users that they need to update an application.

The user will be aware that there is an update when they open the Apps@Work application;

MobileIron: Apps@Work (Showing an Update)

For example in the screen shot above an updated version of the EasyPush application is available. Clicking on the "Update" link will take the user to the details;

MobileIron: Updated Application Details

Here you can (if it's been configured in MobileIron) show the user screen shots and detail all the exciting new features they could be enjoying. Sadly when I took this screen shot it was before I did any of that! To install the new version of the application click "Request" (on the right);

MobileIron: App Update Dialog

This dialog will then appear, click "Update" to install the update;

iOS: Updating An Application

Application updates installed via MobileIron appear in exactly the same way as normal Apple application updates (i.e. blue bar/ waiting > blue bar/ installing > etc).

iOS: Deploying an Application in MobileIron (Via Active Directory)

Whilst this seemed to be fairly straight forward it's not exactly intuitive so I thought I'd put this together to help anyone else who gets stuck.

The first step is to login to MobileIron and select the "Smartphones & Users" tab and then click on "Manage Labels";

MobileIron: Smartphones & Users > Manage Labels

Click on "Add New" (immediately above the top left of the grid);

MobileIron: Add Label dialog

Typically we use the same name for the label as we use for the Active Directory group (helps prevent a lot of confusion!). Enter the name and description you wish to use (both are mandatory) and then click "Save";

MobileIron: Add Label Confirmation Dialog

This just confirms that the label has been successfully created. Click "OK".

Now you've created your new label you need to define the search criteria that will put mobile devices into it. you do this from the "All Smartphones" tab (second from the left under "Smartphones & Users"). Click on it;

MobileIron: Smartphones & Users > All Smartphones

You can now see a list of all the smartphones registered with the server. Click on the "Advanced Search" link (highlighted above);

MobileIron: All Smartphones > Assign Label to result

This is the point where it gets tricky. You need to select LDAP_GROUP in the top drop down and then enter the name of the LDAP Group you wish to use. This proved incredibly difficult with a huge-unrelated list of groups being displayed which didn't include the group I wanted. A lot of resetting of the form ensued and after a good 5 or 6 tries I managed to get it to accept that group I was looking for.

When you've managed to enter your search criteria click "Search" (just to check that your search works).

When you're happy with the result choose the new label you created in the "Assign Label to result" drop down underneath your search criteria. If you label doesn't appear here go back and look at it and make sure it's a "filter" not "manual" - if it's the wrong type you need to delete it and start again (it changes type if you assign a user to it before creating this filter).

As soon as you have selected your label a dialog confirms your choice;

MobileIron: Assigning Label ... Dialog

Now that the label has been created you need to return to "Apps & Files" > "App Distribution" and find your application in order to apply your newly created label to it;

MobileIron: Apps & Files > App Distribution

Check the box next to your application and then under the Actions menu select "Apply to Label";

Mobile Iron: Apply To Label dialog

Find the label you had previously created and check the box next to it then click "Apply";

MobileIron: Apply Apps To Labels dialog

This dialog just confirms you've asked for the change to be made. The request is then queued. On our system it takes a fraction of a second to run but I guess the larger you installation the longer it will take!

And of course the final part of proof has to be opening Apps@Work on the iPad and seeing if your new application has been successfully deployed;

MobileIron: Apps@Work - RxBrowser Available

iOS: Deploying a New (In-house) Application via MobileIron

First login to Mobile Iron and go to the "Apps & Files" tab, then "App Distribution" (change the drop down to iOS) and click the "Add App" link;

MobileIron: Apps & Files > App Distribution

When you've clicked the link the "Add App Wizard" dialog will appear;

MobileIron: Add App Wizard Dialog

Click "Next";

MobileIron: Add App Wizard, Basic App Info

This blog post is about deploying an "in-house" application (one which you've either built yourself or purchased for internal distribution).

Use the Browse button to select the .ipa file for the application you with to distribute and then you need to choose whether or not the application should be iPad only and select your preferred Managed Application Settings from the table above. Typically you'll want to popup a dialog to install the application as soon as the device registers so I usually leave everything set to "Yes".

Click "Next";

MobileIron: Add App Wizard > Additional App Info

The application I'm working on deploying is the iOS part of the software testing suite provided by Ranorex (see here). I've downloaded the source, built it, and then signed it with the company distribution certificates.

This page in the wizard allows you to enter some details about the application. Generally the only thing you need to add is the description and to decide if you want to use Data Protection.

Click "Next" when you've made your selections;

MobileIron: Add App Wizard > App Images

Select the main application icon you want to use for the application (most Xcode projects will include the icon in the source so you can just use that). Add any iPhone or iPad screen shots you wish users to see when choosing to install the application and then click "Next";

MobileIron: Add App Wizard > Thank You

 And you're done, the application has been successfully uploaded to the MobileIron server. It's worth noting that the application won't actually be able to be deployed to any devices until you have labeled it.

iOS: Configuring Accellion iOS Application

In order to use the Accellion application you'll need to have access to a server upon which the Accellion software is installed. I'd expect this application to only really be useful to people working in a corporate environment.

The first step (on the iOS device) is to install the software. Do a search for "Accellion" in the App Store;

iOS: Accellion Application in the App Store

The application is FREE (and is a universal application for iPad and iPhone) so you can just install it. Once it's installed open it;

Accellion: Service URL

Here you need to enter the URL that you have been provided with to access your Server. Typically you will receive an email with the details in. You can only connect to a single server at a time - not quite so useful if you have multiple customers or suppliers who you want to connect to!

Once you've entered the URL touch "Login" to get to the next screen;

Accellion: Authorizing ...

You need to enter the E-mail and Password you have already created on the Accellion website. If you've forgotten your password there is a "Forgot password?" link. Once you've entered your details touch "Login";

Accellion: Creating a new PIN

If you haven't already you'll be prompted with this dialog to Create a PIN to secure your device. One more thing for you to remember! Once you've created the pin touch "OK";

Accellion: Remote/ Local File Selector

You now have either the choice to look at files locally or remotely. Touch on the folder icon (in yellow) to see a list of the workspaces on the server you have access to;

Accellion: Available Workspaces

Touching a workspace will give you access to the files in it.

iOS: Upgrading an iPad to iOS 6.1

The purpose of this blog post is to show you the steps involved in upgrading your iPad from a previous version of iOS to version 6.1 (the version released on the 28th January 2013). The starting point is to bring up the "Settings" application on your iPad and select "General";

iOS: Settings Application

Select "Software Update" (the second option from the top);

iOS: Software Update

If there is a software update available you'll see the details on this screen. Click "Download and Install";

iOS: Terms and Conditions

You're now presented with the iOS Terms and Conditions. After reading this (which, of course, everyone does) and digesting it's full meaning click "Agree" at the top right;

iOS: Software Update/ Power Warning

If you are running on battery power you get this warning. Now the update will take a good few minutes to download (depending on your broadband connection) during which your WiFi connection will be active and draining your battery - if you're really unlucky and the power chooses the moment you're installing the upgrade to go then there is a risk that you'll brick your iPad so if you're not sure you have enough power it's best to plug in.

Click "Continue";

iOS: Downloading Software Update

The download will now start, as you can see the timing for me was about 17 minutes - your mileage will vary (in fairness to my broadband provider I was also downloading and upgrading an iPhone and an Apple TV at the same time!).

Once it's complete;

iOS: Software Update Installation Dialog

Once the download has completed you can choose to install it now or later. Assuming you want to install it now click "Install";

iOS: Verifying Update

Verifying will take a few minutes and once that's complete the iPad will reboot and install the update. This usually takes around 5 minutes on an iPad 2. Generations 3 and 4 will be quicker;

iOS: iOS 6 Welcome Screen

Once the software installation has completed you're presented with the above screen. Slide the slider across to start configuring iOS 6;

iOS: Enter Passcode

If it's a corporate device or you care in any way about the privacy of the data on your iPad you'll have a passcode. You'll be prompted to enter it before you can progress to the next step. Once you've entered it click "OK";

iOS: Update Completed

This is just a holding screen, touch "Continue";

iOS: Apple ID Sign In

Enter your Apple password. If you haven't already logged in with an Apple ID on the device I imagine you'll be prompted for it at this point. If you don't want to setup and Apple ID just click "Skip This Step" (under the right side of the password entry box). When you've entered your password click "Return" on the keyboard;

iOS: Updating iCloud

Your iCloud settings are now updating. Once that's complete you'll move straight onto the next screen. Interestingly you still get this screen even if iCloud is disabled on your device (as it is on mine - corporate policy). After a few seconds the next screen appears;

iOS: Messaging

You'll see a list of the email and mobile account numbers associated with your iMessage and FaceTime accounts. Once you've activated/ deactivated the ones you require touch "Next" (at the top-right);

iOS: Thank You

A simple screen confirming your iPad is now ready to use. Touch "Start Using iPad";

iOS: Homescreen

And you're now back to your home screen - which should be exactly how you left it prior to the upgrade.