HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc

Arthur Dent — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:22:38 GMT

Hello all.

Prompted by a discussion last week with a customer, I wanted to put together a guide on how to use the Blueprint feature of Apple's Apple Configurator to simply and automate the preparing of devices / adding to Automated Device Enrollment

So, what is a Blueprint: Essentially, it's a configuration of multiple items that you'd normally have to do manually, such as adding a custom app, WiFi profile and or enrolling / adding to ADE

You'll need:

A macOS device
the latest version of Apple Configurator installed (it's available in the App Store)
a test device
a lightning to USB cable

I'm going to assume that nothing is configured on Apple Configurator for this guide.

Configure Organisation / MDM Server in Apple Configurator (AC):

Open AC

Click Apple Configurator > Settings on the Menu bar

This pop up box should appear:

Firstly, click on Organizations

If you don't already have one configured, like this:

Click on the + at the bottom of the screen. There should now be a small wizard to create an Organization:

Click Next, then enter:

The name of the Organization
Phone, email address and address are optional

Click next, then, when prompted, enter your username and address for the Mac and it should save

Next, we will create an MDM server. From the Settings window above, click Servers

Click on the + at the bottom of the screen. There should now be a small wizard to create an MDM Server:

Click next, then, when prompted, type in a name.

For Host name or URL, go to the Meraki Dashboard. Click Systems Manager > Add devices > iOS (or macOS):

Copy the 2.0 URL

Go back to Apple Configurator and paste in the URL

Click Next. The screen may pause for a second whilst Apple Configurator gets the Trust Anchors from the MDM server, and then the screen updates to show the newly configured MDM server

Creating a Blueprint

In Apple Configurator, click Blueprints, then Edit Blueprints

From the window that appears, click New in the bottom left hand corner. Give this a name

You can now double click it to edit it:

Things that you can do:

Add an App / Profile

If you want to add a custom app or WiFi profile:

Click the + then chose Apps or Profiles.

Note: Adding a WiFi profile, even if you add one within Systems Manager, is good idea, as sometimes the device can fail to enroll

Prepare

This allows you to either Add the device to ADE and / or enroll the device.

Choose your first action: Whether to add to ADE, and whether you wish to allow the device to connect to other Mac devices after enrollment via USB

NOTE: You'll only be able to change this setting by wiping the device

The next step allows you to chose the MDM server you wish to use:

Select the MDM server we created earlier

The next step asks which organization we wish to assign the device to: Chose the organization you created earlier

And the last step allows us to create an ADE profile that hides / shows the various setup screens

When finished, click Prepare This won't actually prepare any connected devices

Running the Blueprint

When you're ready to prepare and configure your devices, select the devices from the list in Apple Configurator, click Blueprints, then select the Blueprint you created earlier:

The gnomes' hidden egg has been found!

Re: HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc

MerryAki — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:21:22 GMT

EGG FOUND!

Re: HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc

Mohsin Barkat — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:27:03 GMT

Egg found!

topic Re: HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc in Endpoint Security

HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc

Configure Organisation / MDM Server in Apple Configurator (AC):

Creating a Blueprint

Add an App / Profile

Prepare

Running the Blueprint

The gnomes' hidden egg has been found!

Re: HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc

Re: HOW TO: Using Blueprints to automate the preparing of iOS devices / WiFi profiles, etc