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How to assign device cart to Apple School Manager users
A Device Cart in Hexnode UEM is a group of Shared iPads assigned to specific classes or user groups, enabling multiple students to securely access personalized data on shared hardware.
Understanding Shared iPads and Device Carts
Shared iPads facilitate collaborative learning by allowing students to log in to any device within a designated group. While the hardware is shared, user-specific data and applications remain isolated and inaccessible to other students.
- User Privacy: Data is siloed per user session; students cannot access each other’s files.
- Cloud Synchronization: Student data is pushed to iCloud Drive, while app-specific data is stored in the app cloud.
- Administrative Visibility: Administrators can monitor which users have checked out specific devices directly from the Hexnode UEM console.
Technical Limitations
Before assigning device carts, administrators must consider the following technical constraints:
- User Caching: iPads support a limited number of cached users locally on the storage.
- Storage Requirements: High-volume data synchronization relies heavily on available iCloud storage and local disk space.
Step-by-Step Guide: Assigning Device Carts
Follow these instructions to link created device carts to specific educational domains, such as schools, classes, or grades.
Prerequisites
- Shared iPad Enrollment: Ensure iPads are enrolled in the Shared iPad program via Apple School Manager (ASM).
- Cart Creation: Create the Device Cart in the Hexnode portal before attempting assignment.
- ASM Integration: Sync your Apple School Manager portal with Hexnode to populate Directory Services.
Assignment Instructions
- Log in to the Hexnode UEM portal.
- Navigate to Manage > Directory Services.
- Select the relevant domains (this includes schools, locations, classes, grades, or courses) for assignment.
- Navigate to Actions and select Assign Carts.
- Choose the desired device carts from the list.
- Click Associate.
Once associated, all members of the selected groups can access any iPad within the cart by logging in with their Organizational Apple ID and password during device checkout.
Troubleshooting Guides
| Problem | Potential Root Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| User cannot log in to iPad | Organizational Apple ID is not synced or recognized. | Verify the user is correctly imported from Apple School Manager and the Managed Apple ID is active. |
| “Assign Carts” action missing | Incorrect tab selection or insufficient permissions. | Ensure you are in the Directory Services sub-tab of the Manage section. Verify your admin role has permission to modify directory assignments. |
| Device not appearing in Cart | Device not enrolled as a Shared iPad. | Check the device details to ensure it was enrolled with the “Shared iPad” option enabled in the DEP profile. |
| Slow login/Sync issues | Bandwidth or iCloud storage limits. | Ensure the school network allows Apple’s sync endpoints and that students have sufficient space in their iCloud Drive. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a “Device Cart”?
A Device Cart is a logical grouping in Hexnode UEM that organizes Shared iPads into units that share identical settings and are assigned to specific user groups or classrooms.
Can a student access their files on any iPad in the cart?
Yes. Because student data is pushed to the cloud, they can log in to any iPad within the assigned cart and their files/app data will synchronize to that specific device.
How many students can use a single Shared iPad?
This depends on the iPad’s storage capacity and the “Number of Users” defined in the MDM’s Shared iPad configuration. iPads cache a specific number of users locally to speed up subsequent logins.
Can a cart be assigned to a specific grade instead of a class?
Yes. In the Directory Services tab, you can select domains based on grades, courses, or entire school locations.
