Deployment





====The above guide, //iOS 5 Education Deployment Guide//, distributed by Apple is an excellent, all inclusive guide to deploying iPads in all scenarios. Below is a shorter version that may be easier to follow. I strongly urge you to use Apple's guide in addition to the abbreviated version.==== ====Also, it is worth noting that there are a few free pieces of software that can make deployment faster and easier if you would like to try them, they are called the iPhone Configuration Utility (Mac and PC) and Apple Configurator (includes the iPhone Configuration Utility but is only available for the Mac at this time). A guide to using Apple Configurator is located here. The following guide does not reference either of these applications.====

=**Deployment of iPads in an Institutional Ownership Model (aka "cart" environment)**= While deployment of iPads can be done with both a Mac and a PC, if at all possible it is __**strongly recommend**__ acquiring a Mac for deployment. Doing so will make deployment much faster and easier, ideally this should be done before deploying a single iPad but can be brought into the deployment later on.

**Before deployment, two important thing need to be done:**
1. A decision needs to be made as to which computer will be used for deployment and syncing as you always need to use the same one. 2. A generic, school iTunes needs to be created. This iTunes account is tied to an AppleID that is used for all purchasing. It is important to know that everything that is purchased belongs to that **AppleID** and that ownership cannot be changed or transferred. It is therefore strongly recommended that a personal AppleID/iTunes account not be used (more information will be given later for layering accounts where a teacher can have all school apps, but then on top of those has his/her own content).

**Creating an iTunes Account**
An iTunes account is generally tied to a credit card (or gift card) to allow a user to easily purchase apps/books/media, having a credit card attached to a schools iTunes account is a bad idea. An iTunes account can be created without a credit card, but it will only work if done following a specific order. Please see the following guide on creating an iTunes Account (AppleID) without a credit card.

To create an AppleID, this can be done right in iTunes by going into the iTunes Store and going to the Account or via the following website. The iTunes account/AppleID is tied to an email address, it is very important that a new, generic email address be created and used, this information must be saved in the principal's office and with the pastor. If your school hosts it's own email use that (for example ipad@abcschool.org), or if not create a generic gmail account. The name on the account is not terribly important, when possible I usually use some form on the school's name, for example First Name: Saint, Last Name: Peter, what is important is the date of birth! **It is important that the fictional birth date make the user over 18** and that it be recorded it the other login credentials as this is a question Apple asks when resetting the password if forgotten.

Once iTunes is setup and an AppleID has been established you are ready to begin deploying your iPads. In the interest of time, I would suggest not downloading any additional apps at this time, rather get them setup and deployed, and then resync the iPads to add the additional apps/content.

To make deployment as fast and easy as possible, an "imaging" method is used where one iPad is setup exactly as you want it, and backed-up (this becomes your image), and all subsequent iPads are restored (or reimaged) from that backup.

====When you first turn the iPad on, the setup assistant will guide you through the initial setup process, you will only need to do this once since all of the other iPads will be restored from this image or setup. For settings I would suggest the following: disable location based services, __**do not use iCloud***__, enable find my iPad, and automatically send diagnostic information.====


 * iCloud is a wonderful service but it is a consumer product tied to the AppleID. It is not meant for cart-based deployments and does not work well at all. If setting up an iPad for a teacher that only they will use, the teacher would want to sign in with their personal AppleID after the school has setup the iPad with the school's apps. Once the teacher signs in with their AppleID, they will be able to download all of their content creating a "layer" setup. As the school purchases new apps, they can be added to that iPad by syncing or manually downloading those apps using the school's AppleID.

Once you have run through the setup assistant, connect the iPad to the computer using the USB sync cable, here you must name the iPad, I would recommend a generic name that will not be used such as Master iPad. A registration screen will then appear- this can be submitted or canceled, once past the registration screen, the iPad should be selected, if not click on it along the left under Devices to select it. On the Summary screen in iTunes, make sure the following options are set: under Backup- Back up to this computer, and under Options- Sync with this iPad over Wi-Fi. Once these selections have been made, right click on the iPad and select backup. Once the backup is complete, rename the iPad by clicking on it once, and then a second click (like you would rename any other file) and begin a naming scheme such as iPad01, sync, and you are done. Plug in the next iPad, right click Restore from Backup, select Master iPad (or whatever you named your main image), allow it to restore, it will then be named Master iPad, rename following the naming scheme you chose, in this case it would be iPad02, sync, and disconnect. Continue this way with each iPad. Once you have setup all of your iPads, you can start to download apps, sync them wirelessly to add the apps to the iPads.

=**Deployment of iPads in a 1:1 environment**=