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Matrix42 Self-Service Help Center

iOS Guide I : Basics

Requirements

Matrix42 Account

A Matrix42 Account is needed for different purposes. For example it will be used to create an Apple iOS APNS certificate. Please perform the following steps:

  • Open a web browser and go to https://accounts.matrix42.com
  • Register with your company email address
  • If you are the first employee of your company who is registering for an Matrix42 account, please checkmark ‘Create company account’. In case you do not know if you are the first one, simply checkmark ‘Create company account’. If you get an error message that the company account already exists you simply uncheck ‘Create a company account’.

Please store your Matrix42 account credentials safely. You will need it in the future for various and important tasks.

Before you Start

Create Local Users

Local Users can be used for demonstration purpose or when you don't want to connect your Active Directory. 

Login

Change the default admin preferences

  • Click on the settings icon on the upper right
  • Enter an Email address (e.g. admin@imagoverum.com)
  • Enter the current password in the Old Password field (S1lverb@ck)
  • Enter your new password in the New Password field
  • Confirm your New Password
  • Enable Receive Email Alerts (optional)
  • Change Date Format (optional)
  • Change Time Zone (optional)
  • Change Language (optional)
  • Click Save 
  • Click OK

Create a Local User

  • Navigate to Users
  • Click New Devices User
  • Enter a Username

When entering the Username, advanced user fields below will get pre-filled out automatically.

  • Enter First Name
  • Enter Last Name
  • Enter Email Address
  • Enter Password
  • Confirm Password
  • Enable Email User Details if desired

Requires SMTP Configuration

  • Advanced user fields can be used later on as lookup fields to automatically deploy user specific information into profiles, e.g. for Email, VPN, WiFi etc.
  • Change advanced user fields (optional)
  • Click Save

Next Step

  • Establish Apple Connection

Establish Apple Connection

Apple requires a company individual APNS certificate to enrol and manage iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS devices. The certificate is valid for one year.

According to Apple, this certificate should be re-newed before the expiration of the certificate otherwise you might need to re-enrol all devices again.

  • If you will create the APNS Certificate today, create an entry in your calendar for the renewal date (<1 year) 
  • If not already present, create your mandatory Apple ID,  but review first the following Advisory chapter carefully.

Read Advisory

  • For trials you can use your personal Apple ID. 
  • For production purposes Matrix42 strongly advises to use a non-personalized company Apple ID that will still exist if an employee leaves the company.
  • Furthermore Matrix42 strongly recommends linking a company group email address to that Apple ID during the creation process so that all email group members receive important Apple emails like APNS certificate expiration notifications.
  • For renewing the APNS you must extend the initial certificate entry in the Apple Push Certificates Portal.

Create Certificate Request

  • If not already present, login to Silverback as Administrator
  • Navigate to Admin
  • Navigate to Certificates
  • Click Request Certificate in the Apple Push Notification Service area
  • In the next pop-up you get asked to define who is signing the initial APNS CSR request for the Apple Push Certificates Portal, as Apple requires that Matrix42 signs the generated CSR on your Silverback server
  • You have two options here
    • Automatic: Silverback will automatically sign your Certificate Request
    • Manual: You will perform a short amount of step by step clicks
Automatic Request (recommended)
  • Click Have Silverback attempt to sign the request automatically
  • If you are not logged into your Matrix42 Account you will get a pop-up
    • Login with your Matrix42 Account credentials
  • Click Allow Access
  • Now follow the instructions given in the Silverback pop-up screen:
    • First, download your signed CSR (Mdm_certificateRequest.txt)
    • Navigate to https://identity.apple.com/pushcert
    • Login with your AppleID 
    • Click Create Certificate
    • Agree to the Terms and Conditions if prompted. 
    • Click Choose File 
    • Select the downloaded Mdm_certificateRequest.txt and click open
    • Enter Notes. Use letters and spaces and make a smart description 
      • e.g. APNS Certificate for silverback.imagoverum.com
    • Click Upload
    • Click Download
      • A download with your MDM_ Silverback MDM LLC_Certificate.pem file will start
    • Navigate back to Silverback 
    • Enter your currently used Apple ID, e.g. tim.tober@imagoverum.com
    • Click Choose File and and select the downloaded certificate. 
    • Click Submit to finish the process
    • In case of warning message, click Yes

In the Management Console you should now see the new Apple MDM Push (APNS) certificate with its push topic, expiration date and thumbprint.

Manual Request  (optional)

  • Select ‘I will perform the signing myself‘
  • Now a pop-up screen open and with a guideline:
    • Download the unsigned CSR (Mdm_certificateRequest.txt) from the first line at : Download 
    • Login to https://mobile.matrix42.com
    • Accept terms of use
    • Select Choose File and upload your (Mdm_certificateRequest.txt)
    • Click Generate
    • Download signed CSR (SignedCSRForAppleIdentityPortal.txt)
    • Navigate to https://identity.apple.com/pushcert/
    • Login with your Apple ID
    • Select Create Certificate
    • Agree to the Terms and Conditions if prompted
    • Click Choose File and select the file downloaded Signed CSR (SignedCSRForAppleIdentityPortal.txt)
    • Enter Notes. Use letters and spaces and make a smart description 
    • Click Upload 
    • Download the certificate
    • Navigate back to your Silverback Request new MDM Apple Push Certificate tutorial
    • Select your Downloaded certificate with Choose File
    • Click Submit to finish the process 

In the Management Console console you should now see the new Apple MDM Push (APNS) certificate with its push topic, expiration date and thumbprint.

Next Steps

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