BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Version 5.0

[mirmujahed]

Hi Friends,

I need your advise and support for below mentioned scenario I need to work on:

Scenario:
Currently the customer is have BES 4.1.6 with BB Router in the DMZ. They have already upgraded to MS Exchange 2010 but MS Exchange 2003 is also running with blackberry user mailboxes. So they have a co-existent exchange 2003 & 2010 setup. BB database is on MSDE and need to move to sql server.

Action Plan:

A new server for BES server and router is already ready. Hence I will first install BES 5.0.3 and connect it to central sql server where the BB database is Restored. Before starting the services, I will then install BB Router in DMZ and start the BB services first on the BES server. This should enable the communication with the BB devices without the need to reactivate them as there are almost 150 users.

Next step is move the BB users to MS Exchange 2010. I am confused about how to proceed regarding this step. Should I first move the service account to MS Exchange 2010 and then move user mailboxes to MS Exchange 2010 or do the opposite i.e. move user mailboxes to MS Exchange 2010 and then in the end move the service account.
Note: All mailboxes will not be moved at a time. So BB users on MS Exchange 2003 and MS Exchange 2010 need to work simultaneously.

I am also thinking of creating a new service account on MS Exchange 2010 and changing the existing bb service account on the BES server.

I hope the scenario is clear.

PLease advise.

Thanks.

[knottyrope]

you can use the same service account, will be easier this way

you can do an inplace upgrade to BES 5 if you want, just make sure you have a good backup of the database.

once BES 5 is running you can follow the last link in my post

Here is most of the documentation you need will to install and administer the BB 5.0 server:

Server 5.0 Upgrade Paths:

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/upgradepath.jsp

Server 5.0 Intsallation Support:

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/software/serverinstall.jsp

Server 5.0 Upgarde guide:

http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/deliverables/7315/index.jsp?name=BlackBerry%20Enterprise%20Serve...=

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Resource Kit Docs and Files

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=D736BB10D83A904AEFC1D6CE93DC54B8

http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/subcategories/?userType=2&category=BlackBerry%20Enterprise%20Ser...

Server 5.0 Admin Tutorial:

http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/deliverables/7466/flash_start.html

All Server guides:

http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/?userType=2

Then when you are done with the above follow this one.

How to migrate the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 from Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or 2007 to M...

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[mirmujahed]

The document which you mentioned i.e. KB22601 , does not mention whether we should first move the service account mailbox to 2010 or the BB user mailboxes.
Also, it is not very clear whether both 2003 and 2010 users will work simultaneously.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, could you please confirm if task 4 ( throttling policy ) and task 6 ( Increase the maximum number of connections to the Address Book service ) are compulsory to apply.

Thanks.

[mirmujahed]

Knottyrope,

There is one more confusion. When the backup of bb database from the old BES server 4.1.6 is taken and restored on the new central sql server, I will point the new BES server 5.0.3 to connect to this remote database at the time of installation. At this time it should ask to upgrade the database which the setup should do on its own. But my concern is, will I succeed at this step of db upgrade because normally when we try to upgrade BES server 4.1.6, we need to first upgrade it to 5.0 & then to 5.0.3.

Please clarify !

[mirmujahed]

Waiting for feedback. Please advise. 

[knottyrope]

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mirmujahed wrote:

Knottyrope,

There is one more confusion. When the backup of bb database from the old BES server 4.1.6 is taken and restored on the new central sql server, I will point the new BES server 5.0.3 to connect to this remote database at the time of installation. At this time it should ask to upgrade the database which the setup should do on its own. But my concern is, will I succeed at this step of db upgrade because normally when we try to upgrade BES server 4.1.6, we need to first upgrade it to 5.0 & then to 5.0.3.

Please clarify !

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for 5.0.3 you might need to apply SP 7 to your old BES.

[mirmujahed]

Hi Knottyrope,

Appreciate if you can clarify below points:

• As I am having a separate new setup, I had planned to install BES 5.0.3 on new server with same service account and connect it to OLD Database after restoring it on new sql server. Will it have any impact on existing users or they will function normally ??

• Suppose If I do not create new service account on Exchange 2010, then what user migration process should I follow as I want to install new server with same service account and upgrade database which is restored on new sql server when prompted during installation? As in this way, I need not use BB Transporter and as soon as I connect to the existing DB, all users should function normally. Hence, I will start moving users randomly from 2003 to 2010. In this process, I assume that the BB users will work normally both on 2003 and 2010 during the migration process. Finally, in the end I will move the bb service account and make “Edit mapi” profile.  Please correct me If I am thinking otherwise.

Some of my previous questions still waiting for your feedback:

• The document which you mentioned i.e. KB22601 , does not mention whether we should first move the service account mailbox to 2010 or the BB user mailboxes.

• Also, it is not very clear whether both 2003 and 2010 users will work simultaneously. Please correct me if I am wrong.

• Also, could you please confirm if task 4 ( throttling policy ) and task 6 ( Increase the maximum number of connections to the Address Book service ) are compulsory to apply.

Thanks a lot !!!

[knottyrope]

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mirmujahed wrote:

Hi Knottyrope,

Appreciate if you can clarify below points:

• As I am having a separate new setup, I had planned to install BES 5.0.3 on new server with same service account and connect it to OLD Database after restoring it on new sql server. Will it have any impact on existing users or they will function normally ?? That can work but is a one shot deal and if one permission is not set it will not work well.

• Suppose If I do not create new service account on Exchange 2010, then what user migration process should I follow as I want to install new server with same service account and upgrade database which is restored on new sql server when prompted during installation? As in this way, I need not use BB Transporter and as soon as I connect to the existing DB, all users should function normally. Hence, I will start moving users randomly from 2003 to 2010. In this process, I assume that the BB users will work normally both on 2003 and 2010 during the migration process. Finally, in the end I will move the bb service account and make “Edit mapi” profile.  Please correct me If I am thinking otherwise.

 You will need BES 5 runing for all users then you can move users over. BESAdmin has to move first.

Some of my previous questions still waiting for your feedback:

• The document which you mentioned i.e. KB22601 , does not mention whether we should first move the service account mailbox to 2010 or the BB user mailboxes. Answered above

• Also, it is not very clear whether both 2003 and 2010 users will work simultaneously. Please correct me if I am wrong. Yes they can,

• Also, could you please confirm if task 4 ( throttling policy ) and task 6 ( Increase the maximum number of connections to the Address Book service ) are compulsory to apply. Yes they need to be done of BES will not allow more than 20 users to connect.

Thanks a lot !!!

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[mirmujahed]

Thanks for the support. After all the discussion, here is my initial plan of action:

- Install BES 5.0.3 and BB Router on new separate hardwares with new bb service account on Exchange 2010.

- Connect to new database on central sql server.

- Move 1 bb user from old BES server to new BES server using transporter. 

- Move the user mailbox from Exchange 2003 to 2010 and check functionality.

- Once confirmed, move all bb users to new BES server and later their mailboxes.

- If required, Resend Service books.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have one confusion regarding new service account. When I use transporter to move bb user from old bes server, Should I first move his mailbox to 2010 or first move the user to new BES server and later his mailbox??

Thanks.

[knottyrope]

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mirmujahed wrote:

Thanks for the support. After all the discussion, here is my initial plan of action:

- Install BES 5.0.3 and BB Router on new separate hardwares with new bb service account on Exchange 2010.

- Connect to new database on central sql server.

set up one new user or test user

- Move 1 bb user from old BES server to new BES server using transporter. 

- Move the user mailbox from Exchange 2003 to 2010 and check functionality.

- Once confirmed, move all bb users to new BES server and later their mailboxes.

- If required, Resend Service books.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have one confusion regarding new service account. When I use transporter to move bb user from old bes server, Should I first move his mailbox to 2010 or first move the user to new BES server and later his mailbox??

Thanks.

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i always move user to new BES first