ChromeOS zero-touch enrollment is an alternative to manually enrolling devices

[Ahrosser]

ChromeOS zero-touch enrollment is an alternative to manually enrolling devices, where a pre-provisioning partner (device manufacturer, distributor or reseller) sends instructions to Google to automatically enroll a ChromeOS device into a customer’s domain after a device is turned on and connected to the internet.

If you have not had an opportunity to learn more about Zero-touch enrollment, please check out the following information:  

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/10130175

[chand]

Big fan of ZTE. This is our second year of using the service through our reseller. Super easy - admins just need to setup the pre-provisioning token in Admin. Our students now pick up their devices in person and upon first login, the device gets enrolled and it's in the correct OU (changes from Pre-Provisioned to Provisioned). We can review which devices are not enrolled via a filter in Admin and reach out as needed. 

[AntoineJutras]

Quel est le coût par machine qu'un fournisseur pourrait demander pour un Chromebook avec Zero Touch Enrollment ?

[macgeeknz]

Here in New Zealand the big reseller (TWG) don't offer free ZTE, they only offer their "ZTE+" product which is just ZTE with a cost added. The cost is approx $15 per device. Soon adds up when buying dozens of devices at a time!

[Olger]

In Australia ZTE is not free either, we use an Arduino Centipede (2 actually) for enrolling devices. One sets the password for the wifi, the other has a basic script for enrolling into Workspace. Works well enough that we forgo ZTE and just do it ourselves. Enrolling 60 devices takes maybe half a day, including unpacking. Space is often a limiting factor (not enough space to set up all the chromebooks at once). Then we just move from chromebook to chromebook with the centipedes.

[Bill_Gibson]

Similar to Arduino, we've utilized Go-Box hardware to quickly enroll as opposed to paying the distributor premium.
We found that using a wired network connection moves the process through most efficiently/consistently allowing us to deploy a wireless key via policy.

[panderson]

@Bill_Gibson  I am curious to find out what you use for a wired connection with your Chromebooks. Is it a USB Ethernet adapter?

[Bill_Gibson]

Yes, we have USB Ethernet adapters from a few different vendors (StartTech being one of them), and ChromeOS is generally compatible with them. I would imagine that a USB dock with an ethernet port would also have success.

There's little to no lag to get IP connectivity, so you can tighten up the automation script.

[Josh]

Generally speaking ZTE should be free. All the vendor has to do is upload a list of serial numbers into a Google portal.

Also in Australia and have had some vendors try and charge us for it, while others have offered it for free.

Before using ZTE, we used both a Go-Box and Rubber Duckies they worked well but ZTE is much quicker and easier.

There are no more issues where the timing isn't quite right for the script and you need to finish the enrollment workflow manually.

Instead of the device being taken through the OOBE and entering the enrollment username/password, you connect a USB Ethernet, push enter at the welcome screen and the rest is automatically done in about 30 seconds.

It saved us at least a day of setup for our annual purchase of devices.