Profile Manager 2

Apple's first version of Profile Manager (OS X 10.7, Server v1) was more like a pre-release version. It didn't work that well and there really weren't many features that made it worth the install time.  However, Profile Manager 2, which is included in OS X Server version 2, provides a great management tool for iOS devices.  It also provides management of Mac clients, but I have found that it just isn't reliable enough for day-to-day management of Macs.  I prefer to stick with MCX for my Macs until it is improved.

Profile Manager allows you to create a group of iPads and assign profiles and apps to the group.  The profiles and apps are then pushed out over the air to the devices.  Profiles install automatically while the apps require the user to click Install when prompted.

I list more complaints than good features below.  I do believe that the good outweighs the bad, though.

Features

• Over-the-air updates to profiles.

• Over-the-air app installation.

• Group device management.

• Remote device management - Lock and wipe lost devices.

Complaints

There are a few items I would like to see Apple improve in the next version:

• Sorting apps uploaded to Profile Manger

• Currently apps are sorted by the day they were uploaded.  Allowing them to be sorted alphabetically be much more efficient.

• Names displayed for Apps

• The apps are listed by the file name of the apps, not the title of the app.  For example, an app may show up in iTunes as Alphabet, but the file name of the app may be abc.app.  This can be confusing for users who are looking for the title of the app.

• Allow Restrictions on Profile Manager Admins

• Currently, any user who can login to the Profile Manger management page can see all of the devices, settings and apps.  It would be nice to have different management users/groups that devices can be assigned to.  For example, we have iOS devices in our elementary, middle school as well as our SPED department.  Since each area has a different manager, I have created multiple Profile Manger servers.

• Allow Uploading Multiple Apps

• Unfortunately the .ipa files have to be uploaded one at a time.  Not a big deal if you only have a handful of apps.  However, some of our buildings have 150+ apps!