Airwatch on AOSP devices

[IAdea]

I am having a hard time installing Airwatch on an Android 7.1 AOSP device (with 1908 release). I kept bumping in to this dialog box that asks me to either update my Google Play (non-existent) or do an "Enterprise Wipe" (that just quits the app). Help needed!

[ralbertodacu]

Navigate to "Settings / Devices & Users / Android / Android EMM Registration". Under the "Enrollment Settings" tab, select "AOSP / Closed Network" as the Work Managed Enrollment Type and then Save. Factory reset your device and try to enroll again.

You may configure this on the OG you are trying to enroll or on a parent OG, depending on the structure you have setup.

[YungTiChen]

ralbertoda, thanks for you reply.

I followed your setting.  Unfortunately, it's still not work.  Let me paste my setting.  Could you please kindly take a look and see if anything I missed.  Thank you.

Devices & Users > Android > Android EMM Registration > Configuration

Test connection passed.

Devices & Users > Android > Android EMM Registration > Enrollment Settings

Selected "AOSP / Closed Network"

Apps > Settings and Policies > Security Policies > Compromised Protection > DISABLED

But, I in the last step of enroll on device.  I got this error message: "PlayStore and PlayServices Update is required".

Once I click "ENTERPRIZE WIPE", the app closed.

Could you please kindly let me know if anything I missed?  Thank you.

[ralbertodacu]

Hello YungTiChen​,

Are you able to manually Factory Reset this device? Ideally you would also delete the device from the UEM console (in case a record has been created for it).

[YungTiChen]

Hi ralbertodacu

Thanks for your prompt reply.  I did following as your direction:

1. Factory reset device

2. Del all devices in UEM console device list.

Unfortunately, I got the same error "PlayStore and PlayServices Update is required".

Any other suggestion would be help.  Thank you.

[ralbertodacu]

How are you trying to enroll this device? Have you tried using the AirWatch Relay app to enroll the device, for example?

Enroll Android Device with AirWatch Relay for Android 6.0+

The idea of Factory Resetting the device is to be able to setup Android Enterprise during the activation progress, not after it's been activated.

[YungTiChen]

Hi ralbertodacu​

I install the Intelligent Hub (Airwatch agent) and try to use it to enroll the device.

Since I have never enrolled the Android 7.1 AOSP device successfully.  I follow your direction.

1. Del all devices in UEM console device list to clean the record.

2. Factory reset the device.

3. Install Intelligent Hub 20.02.0.19 on device and try to enroll it.

The setting in UEM console is in previous post.

Is there anything I missed?  I thought I could enroll the devices by Intelligent Hub?

[ralbertodacu]

Hello YungTiChen​,

When enrolling AOSP, we would either be using "Android Enterprise Work Managed" or "Android Legacy".

In order to enroll your device as "Android Legacy", go to "Settings / Devices & Users / Android / Android EMM Registration" and on the "Enrollment Restrictions" tab, select "Always Use Android (Legacy)". This should allow you to enroll using the method you are trying (sideload the Hub app and and then try to enroll).

As the market moves more and more towards Android Enterprise, I would NOT recommend that you use Android Legacy though. You may find yourself on an unsupported configuration some time from now and then having to migrate in order to continue deploying new devices.

For "Android Enterprise Work Managed" enrollment, please refer to VMware's documentation as it should answer some of your questions on the subject: Understanding Android Device Modes

Your case would follow under the "Work Managed Device Without Google Play Services" section.

As you will probably notice, unless you have a Zebra or a Honeywell device, it will be quite difficult for you to enroll your AOSP device as Android Enterprise.

So this brings us to one last test (assuming your device is not Zebra or Honeywell). If you have an "Activation/Initial Screen" right after you factory reset your device, you may try from that screen (BEFORE your press "Next") to:

a. Use the AirWatch Relay app installed on another device and try to enroll the device using NFC Bump

OR

b. Tap that screen 6-10 times to see if you get the option to read a QR code (if you do get this option, refer to Generate a QR Code Using the Enrollment Configuration Wizard )

If you cannot enroll start your device enrollment from your Activation Screen using any of those methods, or if you don't have an Activation screen at all, then I'm afraid your only option would be to use Android Legacy, but bear in mind the caveat that I mentioned earlier.

Hope this helps!

[YungTiChen]

Hi ralbertodacu,

Thanks for your detailed reply.  I can enroll the devices with Legacy mode.  Really thanks for your help!