How to solve "Cannot connect to server" message with wireless app distribution on iPhone iOS 4

Question

I found the pre-release docs for this at https://developer.apple.com/iphone/prerelease/library/featuredarticles/FA_Wireless_Enterprise_App_Distribution/Introduction/Introduction.html (Developer account required)

and some more at: http://jeffreysambells.com/posts/2010/06/22/ios-wireless-app-distribution/

I'm running into issues when I click on the link to the .plist file

<a href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://www.server.edu/iphone/calcs.plist">Install My App over the air</a>

-- the iOS4 device reports back:

Cannot connect to www.server.edu

Server names intentionally obscured

Obviously the device can connect to the server otherwise i wouldn't be able to see the page that has the link...

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

This happened to me because the SSL certificate had expired. Make sure you add that to the list of things to check. Once I renewed that it started working again.

Answer 2

I run into the same problem. It turns out there is a typo in the plist file. Acutally, you don't need to create this plist file. If you are using XCode to distribute, it will generate the right plist file with the ipa file. Follow the following steps: 1. Sign your app with the enterprise distribution certificate. 2. Once you create the archive, go to Organizer, select the archive and click Distribute. 3.select "Save for Enterpise or Ad-Hoc Deployment" and click next. 4. Make sure you select the right code signing identity, the same certificate for in house distribution and click next. 5. When prompted for save, check "Save for Enterprise Distribution". It will ask for more information. 6. Application URL must be the url pointing to your ipa file when deployed in your app distribution server. You will need to have another two image files (required as 512*512 and 57*57). 7. When clicked save, plist file and ipa file will be created in the folder you chooose.

Official Guide: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#featuredarticles/FA_Wireless_Enterprise_App_Distribution/Introduction/Introduction.html